Just diagnosed and dreading the summer...

I am so happy to have found this website so I do not feel so alone in this. I just got diagnosed a few weeks ago as I began to see the spots spread on my hands and hips.....just noticed a few white eyelashes the other day (hoping maybe they are gray!! Haha) I am a full time working mother of a 4 year old and 1 year old so avoiding stress is a little hard. We have a family vacation planned at the beach this coming summer and I don't know what precautions I should take....I've always been one to looooove laying in the sun and I know my kids will want to play. It hurts so much to think I will have to hide under an umbrella the whole time :-( does exposure to the sun cause it to spread or just cause the white spots to stand out more?! Any suggestions are welcomed. I am so bummed :-(

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  • I am new to vitiligo also. I was diagnosed this fall. My vitiligo is mainly on my back and under my right breast. I try to stay on the stick diet but I occasionally blow it. I pay for it afterwards, I have pain(stinging) if I eat the incorrect foods. I ha asked on this website if anyone else get stinging pain and I seem to be the only one. I am extremely lucky that my vitiligo is where others don't notice.

    Read up on all the different sites and figure what is best for you. I have given up all carbonated drinks, citrus fruit, alcohol, candy, ice cream. I try to keep my diet to fresh vegetable and some fruit. Basically cut out all junk food!!!!!!!!! I haven't had a cookie since October.

    Beware off all the scams, there are a lot of them. Stay with the nationally recognized websites. If a website promises a cure in two months it is probably a scam. Your doctor should test you for an autoimmune disease. I am lucky that I don't have one. My vitiligo is probably from stress and I have been under a lot of stress.

    Read up on everything. I even reread information.
    • Hi Nancy! Has cutting out those foods helped you? I am looking into what foods to try to stay away from and vitamins to take. I have had hashimoto's for about 15 years now. I always had this little white patch on my ankle and always just thought it was cute and looked like a spot of paint :-) I think it was my recent stress of going back to work full time and having a 4 and 1 year old that triggered it. The spot on my ankle faded over the years so I am hoping eventually the other ones will too. Only time will tell. Thanks for your feedback... I will definitely read up on as much as I can. Good luck to you!
      • Hi Erika,

        I know how you feel. The sun is such a love, hate thing with me too. My vitiligo is almost unnoticeable in the winter, but the moment I get in the sun, I can see just how much it's there and spreading. The crazy part is that , from what I've learned, in my case this is definitely due to autoimmune disease and its inflammatory. The sun provides a lot of vitamin D which is what all of us desperately need. It's a balance thing though. Not too much not too little. Please don't feel alone. It'll take time, but we've got to love ourselves no matter what. Easier said than done I know. 

  • Thanks everyone that replied! I know it will just take some time to figure this all out and figure out what will work for me. :-)
  • Hi Erika,

    I just use a lot of sunscreen... try to find the healthiest kind available if possible. I always bring an umbrella which is good for everybody, but I don't feel stuck there. Tanning will just make the spots stand out more, and I find that the areas without pigment are really sensitive to burning. I'm a late in the day beach person and usually cover up from the direct sun. I hope this helps and enjoy your vacation!

    Here is a list of sunscreens I found useful: http://www.ewg.org/2014sunscreen/best-sunscreens/best-beach-sport-s...

    ~Jordan

  • Sun bath is good, but until 9AM and after 4PM.

    Check www.vitiligomap.com for suggestions.

    Regards.

    • I think so. And with protective cream I thinkg you won't have any probelm.

      I love beach too :-) I avoid go there betweeen 12 pm 4 pm, I put protective cream all over my body and I walk along the shore and I take sun.

      Regards

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