Vitiligo does not impact a person’s overall physical health. However, if the white patches are in a prominent place (e.g., hands or face), you may be self-conscious and experience embarrassment, depression or anxiety. In these situations, psychological counselling can restore your self-confidence and positive self-image.
Vitiligo support groups can also be a useful forum for sharing concerns and coping strategies. Associations such as Vitiligo Support International can provide additional information.
The physical side of vitiligo can also be managed. For example, sun sensitivity can be controlled through the use of sunscreen and reducing exposure to the sun. This further minimizes tanning so that the contrast between normal and depigmented skin becomes less noticeable. And cosmetics, such as make-up, self-tanning lotions and dyes can effectively cover depigmented patches.
