Posted by Amanda Flynn on August 1, 2011 at 10:46am
I avoid the sun like it's my job. But it's pretty hard when you live on beautiful Lake Michigan. So I wear SPF infinity-and-beyond when I go to the beach. I avoid the sun because I heard it was bad for your Vit and it made my spots more noticeable. Also, those white patches should be more susceptible to skin cancer, right? I got a burn on the Vit on the back of my knees and it was horrid! I mean, that would make sense to me! Now I'm seeing people who are saying, "Sun exposure encourages repigmentation". I wasn't sure what to think of it. My boyfriend also has Vit (I know, what are the chances of that?) And he had a spot by his eye. He was a coach and every day he would spend two hours in the sun. He never put on sunscreen because, I don't know, I guess he enjoys pain? Anyways, that spot got bright red. Super duper red. Then the red faded and I noticed some freckles in it. Now it's totally repigmented. Now I don't want everybody to go take a nap in the sun for two hours, but I just thought it was very interesting. So what do you guys think? Sun or no sun?
Thanks for everyone's responses. I'm going to do the rest of summer with less SPF and more time not fearing sun. Yes I will be more two-toned but I'm willing to let my Vit see some UV rays. Thanks again.
Sun or no sun. I have vit and as a kid I would be in the sun during the summer months only once I remember ever getting burned, however vit is in my family. My grandson who is 7 has had vit for abouy 3 yrs. My husband like you boyfriend also has vit which I have always been told this is very unusual. My husband worked in construction and many days he would get burned most of his vit is around his neck where he was exposed to the sun. His never spread except for where he was burned by the sun.
Im always in the sun, i love laying out in the sun, and going to the beach. Yes i do burn sometimes with and without sunscreen but i still love it. Im scared of getting skin cancer but everyone dies eventually and laying out in the sun is one of my favorite things to do so im not going to let vitiligo stop me from doing what i love. Im 16 and i got vitiligo when i saw 11. I've never avoided the sun.
I believe that sun (or phototherapy - artificial sun) helps. It stimulates the tanning response and pigment production. I don't like the contrast as my regular skin gets tan making my vitiligo spots stand out but getting some repigmentation is worth it.
I say sun, I spend every summer in the sun, with loads of sunblock, most of my vit spots that get direct contact with the sun, repigment, the sun stimulates the cells somehow, i just recently went to a derm and she said to me that she noticed the freckling and pink on my vit, that that was a good sign, cause it shows there is pigmentstill left in those areas, she told me use creams and go in the sun, her words were "it's summer now so it's good, get in that sun" she pretty much told me that once winter comes along i probably wont see results, so i should then get the uvb light therapy which practically duplicates the sun, Now i can totally understand your concern with the sun on the vit and skin cancer and turning pink, but as long as you use that sunscreen (cause i know how much that sun can hurt when those spots are pink and burnt and scabbing) you will be ok, like i've told you since summer began I am out in the sun every other day tanning by the pool, running, and jus hangin with lil man, don't let the sun discourage you, and so what if it makes it more noticeable, as long as your happy and you let the sun kiss your face, you will be good, also keep in mind, the sun is a great source of vitamin D something us vitiligans lack, so really think about this... I think the benefits of the sun outweigh the embarassment of more noticeable vit spots <3
I agree. I hve avoided the sun for 30 years and have never had repigmentation.....only loss of pigment. Now I ue UVB, Sun when available (not very often here!) and protopic and I am seeing loads of freckles. I ahve very large areas to repigment so it will take a while and I am not expecting it to ever totally come back but at least it is going in the right direction and it makes me feel better. Being able to cunbathe after 30years is a great feeling!
I too have said i do not expect all my pigment to come back, even if it just stopped where it was at now, i would be fine, its beyond where i am at now that i fear, I never let vit bother me EVER!!! I don't know if it was maybe how the layout of it is on my body or i just really dont give a flying fuck, but recently i have noticed possibly more vit to come, I always had it inside my thighs, my feet, backs of my thighs, inside my arms and elbows, but now i see it possibly appearing on my forearms and shins, and that scares me, now I feel i must gain control, I could'nt imagine life without sun, no sun kissing my face, or sunlight blowing through my hair, No feeling of warmth on my skin, I mean hey... I am a huge fan of True Blood and Twilight, but i do not want to live a vamperific lifestyle hehehe
Replies
Hi Amanda,
Sun or no sun. I have vit and as a kid I would be in the sun during the summer months only once I remember ever getting burned, however vit is in my family. My grandson who is 7 has had vit for abouy 3 yrs. My husband like you boyfriend also has vit which I have always been told this is very unusual. My husband worked in construction and many days he would get burned most of his vit is around his neck where he was exposed to the sun. His never spread except for where he was burned by the sun.
I believe that sun (or phototherapy - artificial sun) helps. It stimulates the tanning response and pigment production. I don't like the contrast as my regular skin gets tan making my vitiligo spots stand out but getting some repigmentation is worth it.
Yours truly,
Audrey