Vitiligo skin demands care as the lack of melanin leaves the skin unprotected. See what skincare is like for skin with vitiligo.
Skincare is essential for the care of all skin, but in the case of those with vitiligo whose skin is completely unprotected against the sun, care must be taken even more. Therefore, today we are going to bring some skincare tips for skin with vitiligo.
For those who don’t know, Vitiligo is a chronic disease that affects the body’s melanin production, resulting in white patches on the body. Therefore, the affected region tends to be more sensitive and susceptible to damage caused by the sun. Therefore, it is necessary to know the specific care and always keep your skincare routine up to date.
However, Before starting to use any product, it is essential to consult your dermatologist to advise you on what is best and most suitable for vitiligo skin.. After all, you don’t want to cause damage to your skin.
6 skincare tips for vitiligo skin
Basically, the cleaning and hydration steps are the same for skin with vitiligo or not. However, The products must be chosen according to the characteristics of the skin and with guidance from a dermatologist.
1. Cleaning
Cleansing is the first step in skincare, which is essential. Here the choice of a good soap is the same as for other skin types, and should be chosen according to the skin type, whether it is oily, dry or combination and the degree of sensitivity. Therefore, a dermatologist can recommend the best soap for your skin.
2. Exfoliation? Yes or no?
Despite having several benefits for the skin, exfoliation is not recommended for those with vitiligo. This is because it is essential to maintain the integrity of the skin. So, don’t exfoliate your skin or do peelings, which can cause trauma to the skin and make vitiligo worse. Furthermore, bleaching agents are also not recommended.
3. Blessed hydration
In vitiligo skincare, hydration is your best friend. Therefore, the tip is to hydrate your skin whenever possible, at least twice a day with a moisturizing cream recommended by a doctor.
So, whether it’s hot or cold, don’t forget to always hydrate your skin. Creams with active ingredients such as dexpanthenol, ceramides and glycerin are great for this purpose. And remember, hydration is as much for the face as it is for the body.
4. Always sunscreen
As we saw here, vitiligo leaves the skin unprotected against the sun due to a lack of melanin. So, sunscreen becomes even more essential. Without the product, white areas of the skin may turn red more easily, as well as burning symptoms.
Therefore, the ideal is to use sunscreen every day, even on cloudy or rainy days. “The skin should always be protected with high protection sunscreens, that is, SPF greater than 50”recommends dermatologist Camila Marçal, from the Instituto da Pelle Madureira, in an interview for the L’ORÉAL website.
As for the texture of the protector, it can be either cream, gel or dry touch, whichever is best suited to your skin type. Furthermore, colored protectors offer more protection, so you’re more than welcome.
5. Makeup is allowed
Wearing makeup is more than okay. However, the recommendation is to opt for cosmetics with active ingredients that help beyond aesthetics. For example, those with anti-aging action, which reduce sagging, blemishes and scars on the skin. But, to avoid mistakes, consult your dermatologist to find out about the active ingredients present in your makeup and whether they are suitable for your skin type.
Furthermore, pay attention to the expiration date of makeup products, as well as the hygiene of brushes and other accessories.
6. Wearing hats
An extra tip that goes beyond skincare for vitiligo is to use hats and visors to protect yourself on intense sunny days. These accessories help protect your skin even more, even if you’ve already used sunscreen. After all, you can never be too careful when it comes to your skin and health.
Vitiligo
Now that we know the skincare tips for vitiligo, let’s understand better about the disease and its causes.
What is it?
As we mentioned above, vitiligo is a chronic disease that causes whitish patches on the skin. This happens due to a lack of melanin, which is the pigment that gives the skin its color. Melanin also helps in the skin’s self-protection against radiation, especially from solar sources, among other external agents.
In patients with vitiligo, the organism itself destroys the cells responsible for producing melanin and this causes white spots to appear on the skin. In these areas in particular, the skin becomes more sensitive and unprotected, precisely due to the lack of melanin.
The disease can affect both men and women, and any part of the body. Furthermore, there are two types of segmental and non-segmental vitiligo. In the first, the spots appear only on one part of the body. In non-segmental vitiligo, also known as bilateral, the spots appear on two sides of the body, most often symmetrically. In this case, the loss of color may progress to other areas.
Causes of vitiligo
The whitish spots are caused by the reduction or total absence of melanocytes, that is, the cells responsible for the production of melanin.. However, the causes of the lack or absence of these cells in the body are not yet completely known.
However, it is believed to be related to autoimmunity, when the body produces antibodies against its own cells and organs.. Therefore, due to its relationship with autoimmunity, vitiligo may be hereditary, with a tendency among members with vitiligo in the same family, despite having a low incidence.
Furthermore, Vitiligo can also appear as a result of physical or emotional trauma that can stimulate or worsen blemishes on the skin.
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Bibliography:
- BRAZILIAN SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGY. Vitiligo. Available at:
- BERGQVISTA, Christina; EZZEDINE, Khaled. Vitiligo: A Review. Dermatology. Vol 236. 6 ed; 571-592, 2020
Sources: L’ORÉAL Paris Claudia Boa Forma Tips for Women Your Health
