Experts offer these tips for how to take care of your child — and yourself.
1. Prioritize Your Child’s Overall Skin Care
The first step is to be diligent about your child’s skin health, especially regarding sun protection. “Protecting the skin from excess sun exposure is critical with vitiligo,” Hetz says. Every day, put a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on your child’s body.
If your child is sweating or in the water, have them reapply sunscreen every two hours. Dress your child in protective clothing, including long-sleeved, lightweight shirts and pants, along with a hat and sunglasses.
Moisturizing is just as essential as sun protection. Dryness can worsen vitiligo, according to Hetz. So it’s also vital to keep your child’s skin moisturized each day with a gentle, unscented moisturizer to prevent dryness.
2. Stay Up-to-Date on Your Child’s Primary Care
3. Accept Help From Loved Ones
The challenges of caring for a child with vitiligo can be physically and mentally exhausting, but you don’t have to face them alone.
When friends and family offer to help you with your child, take them up on it. They might watch your child so you can rest and recharge, or comfort your child when they are feeling down.
4. Consider Working With a Mental Health Professional
Instead of dismissing your mental health concerns or directing too much attention and worry toward your child — which may create more worry and anxiety in them — work with a therapist or counselor, Dr. Maguiness advises.
Therapy can help your child deal with the emotional impact of the condition and its social implications, according to Portela. A therapist can help you and your child develop healthy coping mechanisms and may also help you learn to express yourself and your feelings, communicate better with your child, and work through any concerns, Maguiness says.
5. Educate Your Child About Their Condition and How to Talk About It
Teach your child that vitiligo isn’t contagious, doesn’t cause them physical harm, and that their skin is worth caring for and appreciating. “Make sure your child understands that their skin condition is not something to be ashamed of. It is simply part of who they are,” says Maguiness.
Give your child the tools to talk to others about their appearance. “Depending on their age, it is helpful to give your child the language and knowledge to address questions from children or others who might be curious about vitiligo,” Maguiness says. Tell them to honestly answer people’s curiosities by saying, for example, “I have vitiligo. It’s a skin condition, but it’s not contagious, and I’m healthy!”
6. Create a Comfortable Space for Your Child to Express Emotions
To help your child cope with any distressing emotions, “make time and space for your child to express themselves, or even be sad; this is a normal and healthy approach,” Maguiness says. Listen to your child when they show frustration or concern about living with a visible difference. If you’re struggling with how to show up for your child without feeling overwhelmed, you can speak with a therapist who can advise on effective listening.
7. Join a Support Group
8. Work With a Board-Certified Dermatologist
If you and your child aren’t working with a dermatologist already, schedule a visit with one to manage the condition. With proper treatment, you can often stop your child’s vitiligo from progressing and restore skin pigment, according to Portela.
A dermatologist can determine the best treatment for your child, which might include.
- Medications like topical steroids, ruxolitinib, or calcineurin inhibitors
- Light therapy
- Depigmentation therapy
- Surgeries like melanocyte transplants, micro pigmentation, and skin grafting
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