Have you got vitiligo? Protect your skin when exposing it to the sun

Easter is nearly on us and for many that means the first holiday of the year and the first time their skin will be exposed to the sun since some time back. If you have vitiligo, remember that you need to be particularly careful.

Skin with vitiligo is more vulnerable to damage from sunlight because it lacks pigmentation. That said, you also need to remember that so long as exposure times are controlled and the right kind of sunscreen is used, sunlight is good for people with vitiligo because it stimulates melanin production.

Exposure in the middle of the day (between 12 noon and 4 p.m.) should be avoided and be sure to keep an eye on the UV index (from 6 upwards, the risk is high).

People with vitiligo should use sunscreen with a high protection factor (over 30) and reapply it every two hours or after bathing. Here’s a tip to even out the appearance of your skin: use a medium sunscreen (15-30) for areas with vitiligo patches and factor 50 for the rest. This will ensure a more uniform tan.

The debate on how long sunscreen should be applied to the skin before exposure to the sun has recently got under way again. According to a study by a team of researchers at the University of Malaga recently published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology, it is sufficient to apply sunscreen 5 minutes beforehand and not the 30 minutes recommended until now. What it also says, however, is that plenty of sunscreen should be used.

Boost the results of repigmentation

If you want to enhance the results of exposure to the sun when it comes to stimulating melanin production, you can combine it with photosensitizers (Fenadul) or a pigmentation regulator gel (Meladul).
Fenadul gel (applied topically) and Fenadul capsules (taken orally) supply the depigmented skin with the essential amino acid L-Phenylalanine, a precursor for the skin pigment melanin which stimulates its production.

Meladul is a gel which contains superoxide dismutase, a powerful antioxidant which helps reduce oxidative stress and favours the repigmentation of areas where it is applied.