Does the Sun trigger Vitiligo is one of the commonly asked questions we get in our Vitiligo Assessments. These questions normally start popping up once the summer vacations arrive. At Vitiligo Treatment we immediately notice an increase in the number of Vitiligo assessments from new patients once the summer months start, and we all start venturing outside to enjoy the sun and sea. The answer is YES! The sun does cause skin damage, and this in turn causes tiny lacerations on the surface of the skin that ultimately trigger Vitiligo.
Vitiligo and Summer:
This is mainly in the Southern Hemisphere where it is now mid-summer, (December/January) and temperatures start to soar! Sun damage has been the major cause in most of these new cases that we have seen coming in recently. Summers seem to be getting a lot hotter year on year, last longer, and the amount of time that one now spends in the sun before getting sun burnt is less.
This year, 2020, December in Australia hit highs well above 40 °C (104.0 °F) with the lowest rainfall on record. Fires have ravaged more than 10 million hectares, taking lives, destroying homes and impacting wildlife – leaving behind devastated families, communities and landscapes. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragedy.
South Africa and South America have also showed an increase in new patients. We need to be aware of the effects heat and sun has, not only on patients developing Vitiligo for the first time but also on existing patients.
Many individuals who are noticing the first signs of Vitiligo may well be predisposed to the condition. Venturing out into the sun and sea without sun block, and being predisposed to Vitiligo may very well cause skin trauma and trigger the Vitiligo condition.
Vitiligo Spots first Appearing After Overexposure to the Sun
The damage inflicted by the sun on the skin not only causes it to burn, tan, and then ‘peel’ but causes unseen damage to the skins cells. If you are predisposed to Vitiligo, instead of a ‘tanning’ of the skin, you may instead have noticed the first small white Vitiligo spots appearing. Generally, these spots first appear on the arms, hands, neck, and face. From here they may start to spread to other parts of the body.
Early treatment of Vitiligo is highly recommended. If we can stop the initial spread of Vitiligo early enough, we do have a better chance of successful treatment in a shorter period of time.
Saying this, we can also use the sun to benefit us in the treatment of the condition. However, we must emphasize that care needs to be taken not to stay in the sun too long.
If you are currently using the Vitilox Pigmentation cream, I would suggest you take advantage of the sun by applying the cream on the white patches and spend a few minutes in the sun before covering up with sunblock.
Initially leave the cream on for about 5 to 15 minutes without sunblock to take advantage of the suns UVB rays. It is essential to apply a good SPF 50 sun block if you still wish to remain in the sun after UV Sun treatment.
Don’t overdo this ‘tanning’ process. If you feel the white patches are starting to burn or turn red, stop and apply the sunblock. Better yet cover up and move out of the sun.
Another interesting fact is that using the Vitilox Vitamins B12 or our T-Cell-V tablets while out in the sun also has a marked effect in reducing and stopping the spread of Vitiligo.
This extract published below by the Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden has relevance to our products and the ingredients:
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‘Improvement of Vitiligo after oral treatment with vitamin B12 and folic acid and the importance of sun exposure’
“The aim of this 2-year study was to test the hypothesis that folic acid, vitamin B12 and sun exposure could be helpful in treating Vitiligo. One hundred patients with Vitiligo were treated with oral folic acid and vitamin B12 after being informed that sun exposure might enhance re-pigmentation.
They were requested to keep a record of sun exposure in summer and UVB irradiation in winter. Minimal treatment time suggested was 3-6 months.
Clear re-pigmentation occurred in 52 patients, including 37 who exposed their skin to summer sun and 6 who used UVB lamps in winter.
Re-pigmentation was most evident on sun-exposed areas. 38% of the patients had noted re-pigmentation during summer months when they spent time in the sun.
In Fact 6 participants achieved total re-pigmentation. The spread of Vitiligo stopped in 64% of the patients after treatment.
Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation combined with sun exposure can induce re-pigmentation better than either the vitamins or sun exposure alone.
Treatment should continue as long as the white areas continue to show signs of re-pigment. Further studies are been conducted to determine ideal minimum dosages of vitamins and UV exposure, as well as treatment time.”
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Vitilox T-Cell-V Tablets:
Vitilox® T-Cell-V tablets is required if your Vitiligo body coverage exceeds 25%, or if you are naturally predisposed to the Vitiligo condition. We also suggest using the T-Cell-V tablets if you have had Vitiligo for more than 8 years.
The T-Cell-V tablets are an immune therapy product, and has the required ingredients to stop the progression of your Vitiligo. This is very useful when you are also treating yourself with the Vitilox Pigmentation Cream or the Vitilox Lip Balm.
We also have seen pigmentation being induced in patients who have only just started to see a few spots of Vitiligo appearing. They can also be used as a maintenance product once your pigmentation has returned.
Vitilox® T-Cell-V is an effective Immune System Therapy. It contains a special formula with vital ingredients that helps melanin (Pigmentation) production. Vitilox T-Cell-V repairs the skin cells activating new pigmentation to reverse the Vitiligo Condition.
Vitilox T-Cell-V is used in conjunction with Vitilox Pigmentation Cream while re-pigmentation takes place.
Vitilox T-Cell-V ingredients have been carefully selected to work together to regulate the immune responses in the alteration of the T-Cell’s in people suffering from Vitiligo. The T-helper cells heal and rejuvenate skin by the production of new cells. In patients with Vitiligo T-helper cells are arguably the most important cells in adaptive immunity as they also help activate cytotoxic T-cells to kill infected target cells.
Detection of various auto-antibodies including anti-thyroid and anti-melanocyte antibodies have been found in the serum of Vitiligo patients. These conditions are addressed in the Vitiligo T-Cell-V Therapy.
Vitilox Vitamin B12 & Folic Acid:
Note that the Vitamin B12 & Folic acid is used primarily for patients who have a body coverage of Vitiligo under 25%, and who are not predisposed to the condition.
Vitilox® Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid is requires to stop and slow down the further spread of Vitiligo. When treating Vitiligo with the Vitilox® Pigmentation Cream, it is essential that we stop the further spread of the Vitiligo to enable the pigmentation process to be successful, and accelerate.
Vitilox Vitamin B12 is essential for a healthy skin by supporting and promoting cell heath. They also help reduce the risk of infection.
Besides the physical health benefits Vitilox Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid help relieve stress and anxiety which is essential for the well being of patients suffering from Vitiligo. The less you stress the less the Vitiligo spreads! Folic acid is also an important element in producing a health DNA.
We have not forgotten about the Northern hemisphere, and as you are going to be venturing into your Autumn and Summer soon, I do hope you can take some of this information into consideration.
Remember that, especially in individuals with fair skin, you may not notice the vitiligo spots on your skin once summer arrives and you get some sun exposure. With a slight tan of the skin the spots ‘appear’ and you may literally wake up shocked at these spots that have seemingly appear overnight.
The USA has experience very cold conditions this winter, (January 2020) and we have had a number of customers purchasing our Vitilox UVB Lamps for treatment in the comfort of their homes.
Keep in mind that UVB treatment is effective, and we do recommend using our Vitilox Pigmentation Cream with the UVB Treatment to help accelerate the results.
Our Vitilox® Vitiligo Treatment ‘Professional’ UVB Lamp is by far the most versatile UVB product available. It is easy to use, compact, and its quick access to the ‘Timer’ Control and the ability to clip on the ‘Comb’ for distance control, is a huge advantage to Vitiligo, Eczema & Psoriasis users.
At Vitiligo Treatment, besides our specially formulated products to treat Vitiligo, we offer Support, Consultations, and Vitiligo Assessments.
Your free Vitiligo Assessment, which can be found on our website, is assessed by one of our trained consultants. They will evaluate your condition, and help you choose the correct product or products for your treatment going forward.
Remember that at Vitiligo Treatment we do not sell a one product fixes all product, but we do have a range of products required to successfully treat the many different Vitiligo Conditions that do exist.
As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you require any further information pertaining to this article – How does the sun affect Vitiligo – or require any additional detailed information on our products.
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Published by Vitiligo Treatment