Coping up with vitiligo as a patient :
First of all, you need to get convinced for yourself that vitiligo is a not a serious illness. Apart from making a change in your appearance it does not harm you in any way.
Vitiligo is not a serious disease at all. Vitiligo is more of a social disease than medical disease.
What is more important in managing vitiligo is a positive attitude and correct approach towards leucoderma ( vitiligo ).
One has to learn not to feel embarrassed, ashamed, depressed, or worried about how others will react to vitiligo.
It is better not to avoid social situations, networking and parties. Let people around you know once and for all that you have some color problem with your skin. Once they will know it, they will also learn to accept it.
There are many products out there to provide excellent camouflage of vitiligo spots.
Consult a doctor who specializes in dealing with vitiligo cases.
Coping up with vitiligo as a parent :
Children usually cope best with vitiligo better when their parents themselves are not over anxious about it. Your own over consciousness may create more problems for your child than the actual vitiligo. Learn to overcome that.
Let your child know that vitiligo is a benign skin problem and it is not serious.
Educate your child on how to answer his friends, teachers and relatives if they enquire about vitiligo. She/he should be taught to answer firmly and carelessly about the insignificant nature of vitiligo.
Communicate with some of the close relatives (grand parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors and teachers) informing them about vitiligo, requesting them not to discuss it with your child.
Avoid discussing your child's vitiligo repeatedly. Moreover, avoid negative discussion about leucoderma ( vitiligo ) during the child’s presence. Examination of the spots is better done when the child is asleep.
When your child questions you whether anything can be done for this or not, explain your child that this condition can be treated to certain extent like any other skin ailment.
Support your child, and encourage him/her to get involved with activities and hobbies.
Do not allow vitiligo to interfere with your child's joy of living and his self esteem. Do not restrict your child from wearing clothing which may expose some white spots on the skin. Do encourage your child to continue attending social events, other activities like swimming, hiking, sports, parties, etc.
Help your child to boost self confidence and let vitiligo not come on his/her way of growing as a person. Many parents unknowingly end up making their children more conscious about vitiligo by feeling panic about it.
Coping up with vitiligo as as a citizen (who does not suffer from vitiligo) :
vitiligo is a benign, non-infectious condition of the skin. Those who suffer from it do also suffer from some emotional trauma associated with vitiligo. As a civilized person it is our duty to have healthy outlook towards those who suffer from vitiligo.
Do not stare at a person with vitiligo. It is considered bad manners to embarrass any one suffering from vitiligo !
Do not discuss with the sufferer as to what is this, how did it happen, etc which might make him feel more embarrassed.
Patients with vitiligo do not need pity or sympathy. They simply need understanding.
Some Important Links you want to Visit :