Most people with vitiligo need to take extra care of their skin in warmer weather because they are particularly vulnerable to sunburn.  White skin patches have no natural protection against the sun’s rays, unlike normal skin which is protected by melanin (skin pigment).  Unprotected vitiligo skin is highly likely to burn quickly.  Not only is sunburn painful, but it might stimulate the vitiligo to spread in some people.  Sunburn also increases the risk of skin cancer.  We need some sunlight to keep healthy –  it is our main source of Vitamin D, but skin needs to be protected from sun damage. 

You need to choose a product which protects you from the ultraviolet light in the sun’s rays.  There are two types of rays:

Your sun protection product needs to be water-resistant or preferably waterproof if you are going in the water.  Remember that sun can penetrate water to a depth of 10 metres. 

To avoid burning it is important not to rely too much on sunblock.  Some UV rays will go through any sunscreen.  You can also protect your skin by wearing loose cotton clothes, a sunhat and sunglasses. Keep in the shade, especially at the hottest time of day (11am to 3pm).  This is particularly important for children, and especially babies, whose skin is so delicate.

There is so far no evidence that confirms a direct link between nutrition and vitiligo.

However, some studies suggest changing your diet or adding supplements could have a positive impact. 

A nutrient-dense diet is always advisable, not only for vitiligo but for optimum health. A plant-based diet rich in antioxidants, low in inflammatory foods and possibly also gluten-free, may have a beneficial effect on vitiligo.

One potential cause of vitiligo is the effect of stress on the cells that produce melanin. Less melanin means more skin depigmentation.

You can try to protect yourself against this stress by eating a diet high in antioxidants. One study carried out on mice with vitiligo showed significant levels of repigmentation when they ate foods high in antioxidants. 

Vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and spices are all high in antioxidants. A good rule of thumb for eating enough antioxidants is to eat as many different coloured fruit and vegetables as possible: “eat the rainbow”.

Foods high in omega-3 (but lower in omega-6) could also help improve your symptoms. These include oily fish, nuts, seeds and algae. 

A plant-based diet has been shown to be very high in antioxidants (as well as a whole host of other benefits!). This is not the same as a vegan diet because you can still eat some animal products. However, the majority of your diet is made up of plants. 

One study on a vitiligo patient found that following a gluten-free diet resulted in substantial repigmentation. The case study saw significant changes after nine-month period. 

The study was only carried out on one person, but you could cut gluten from your diet to see if it works for you. 

One reason for the improvements in this patient could be because gluten is an inflammatory food.

Avoiding foods that cause an inflammatory response may help reduce the symptoms of vitiligo. 

Inflammatory foods include:

Inflammatory foods make it harder for your gut to work and remain healthy. A healthy gut helps decrease low-grade inflammation in the body. Fibre, probiotic and prebiotic foods, such as sauerkraut, can help improve gut health. 

Although it is considered preferable to consume nutrients via whole foods rather than with supplements, studies suggest some supplements can aid repigmentation in vitiligo patients:

Vitamin D.

It is advisable to see the advice of a professional before taking high strength vitamin D supplements. The dose needs to be balanced to avoid vitamin D toxicity. Too much vitamin D can lead to a build-up of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), which may cause nausea and vomiting.

Check out our online magazine and YouTube channel for more information:

VitLife Article: A personal take on nutrition

VitLife Article: Vitiligo and mental well-being; food, mood and gut

Video: The connection between vitiligo, lifestyle, nutrition and mental wellbeing

Video: Keeping vitiligo in remission through nutrition and lifestyle

The Vitiligo Society continues to monitor vitiligo research and treatments and will provide information on any proven product or treatment.