Dr Rajesh Shah's message to parents whose children have vitiligo
(July 3, 2011)

Many parents experience a sense of panic or shock, when their child is diagnosed with vitiligo. This is especially more relevant with families with brown or dark skin; as vitiligo is a socio-cosmetic disorder, as I call it. I interact with 'vitiligo scared' parents almost every day; and I am aware about the concerns experienced by the parents.

In simple words, I would like to give following tips based on my experience with over 5000 patients of vitiligo.

1. Do not panic: Vitiligo is not a serious disease. As I always say, getting anxious or panic is not going to help your child in any way.As I have written in a separate article, vitiligo is one of the most benign diseases.

2. Try to understand vitiligo: Vitiligo is a disorder like any other medical problem such as allergy, migraine, alopecia areata, colds, etc; in fact, without any suffering associated with it. It results due to loss of pigment, not a big deal, medically speaking.

3. All vitiligo patients do not get it all over the body: Most parents have concern what if the child will have vitiligo spread all over the body. It is rare for vitiligo to spread all over the body. Mostly, the spread depends on the genetic factors.

4.Types of vitiligo: There are various types of vitiligo that your doctors will explain. In fact, there are variants of vitiligo such as those scattered (segmental) vitiligo spots or symmetrical (spread on both sides of the body), etc. The success of treatment may depend on the type of vitiligo, which your doctors should be able to explain.

5.No infection: Most parents already know that vitiligo is not contagious or infectious.

6. Social stigma: Vitiligo is no more a stigma. Some communities or segments of society with lower educational background might consider vitiligo as a stigma, which must be ignored by all parents (and patients). I suggest not paying attention to what others think about your child's vitiligo.

7. Accept it: If you as parent accept your child's vitiligo, then the child will accept it easily. If you and your child learn to accept vitiligo; the society will also accept it. Acceptance of vitiligo will make your child less conscious about it.

8. Do not hide, be comfortable with vitiligo: I know it is little hard but I suggest not to hide vitiligo spots. Let your child wear clothing of his/her choice irrespective of the visibility of vitiligo spots on certain parts of the body. If you are comfortable with your vitiligo spots then only others will become comfortable with your vitiligo spots.

9. Do not search for new spots: I urge all parents not to search for new vitiligo spots, every day. The process of searching new spots will make your child more conscious about vitiligo.

10. Examine it once a month or less: I suggest to examine your child's vitiligo spots only once in a month or less; that too when the child is asleep. Frequent examination of vitiligo spots (to check if it has grown larger or smaller); will make your child feel that something is seriously wrong with his body.

11. Boost your child's confidence: Major duty of the parents of vitiligo-afflicted child is to be able to boost his confidence. This is possible if you and your child learn to accept vitiligo with proper understanding.

12. Marriage related concern: It might sound a bit silly, but it is true that most parents whose children have vitiligo, harbor a serious concern about the future of the child, especially with regards to the marriage. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, some people consider vitiligo as social stigma, which brings concerns about marriage of a person who have vitiligo. If we reflect on this topic seriously, we shall realize that worrying would not really help. As the society is getting more matured, people are no more having those old-fashioned ideas about vitiligo. There is increasingly better acceptance about vitiligo. As a parent you have to do your best for your child's overall education, grows and development. Once your child learns to accept vitiligo (even if not fully treated), he/she will have no problem getting accepted.

13. Let vitiligo not be a block to growth: If your approach towards vitiligo is matured, your child will also learn to accept vitiligo as a part of the body; that will help him/her grow in life without vitiligo becoming a block.

14. Treatment of vitiligo: Vitiligo treatment is a slow process. Use of immunosuppressive measures often lead to increase of vitiligo on a later date, in my experience. Choose a treatment, which offers:

14. Take professional help: Consult doctors who have adequate experience and understanding about vitiligo.

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