It may be difficult for you, as a parent or carer, to talk to your child about vitiligo because of your own feelings about the condition. It is also important that you recognise your own feelings towards vitiligo as this may be an emotional time for you also. So if you feel like you are struggling, do speak to a healthcare professional. You can also join supportive groups like The Vitiligo Society Parent Support Network, email parentsupport@vitiligosociety.org for more information.

As you may know, going to the doctor or specialist with your child can be very stressful. You will probably be discussing their vitiligo in front of them, which may cause your child distress, especially if they are not fully prepared to see the doctor. It is advisable to discuss the visit beforehand and write down the questions you (or your child) want to ask before you go.

As a parent, you will naturally want to get the best treatment for your child and try every medical option open. However, you need to be aware that your efforts to find a treatment may be misunderstood by your child. It is possible that they may think that this means you are ashamed of their condition and ultimately that you don’t love them. It will be beneficial to review some of the treatment options beforehand with your child and understand if they want to try any of the options. Ultimately, your child should understand that accepting vitiligo and not treating it is also an option and that they will have your support.

You can help your child cope with concerns about vitiligo by making them feel secure and loved for who they are. The more confident they are in managing any difficulties they have, the more positive they will feel about the future.

Read more about treatment options for vitiligo.

We would always suggest seeking a formal diagnosis of vitiligo from a trained healthcare professional. However, there are some signs and symptoms that you can look out for if considering if your child might have vitiligo. We talk through these generic symptoms here.

The signs and symptoms of vitiligo in babies and children are broadly similar, with the exception that children are more likely to have the segmental type of vitiligo so statistically that presentation will be more common in children. 

There is just one report that we are aware of which describes this happening. It is unclear from that report whether the antimelanocyte antibodies crossed the placenta or whether it was a genetic predisposition that was in play. The answer is that it is possible but probably uncommon, though if the vitiligo is active in the mother, then that might make it more likely to occur. 

Pregnancy is likely to be a potential factor in the precipitation of the onset of vitiligo because of the disruption of the immune system that occurs with pregnancy. Additionally, it could be anticipated that pre-existing vitiligo might get worse with pregnancy in some women. According to research conducted in 2021, 17% of participants found that pregnancy caused their vitiligo patches to grow in size or number, where as 12% found reported an improvement to their vitiligo. 71% reported that pregnancy had no affect on their vitiligo.

If you have a question about vitiligo and pregnancy then please email our team: hello@vitiligosociety.org.uk

It can be overwhelming sending your child to school, into a new environment where they may be asked questions about their vitiligo and appearance. The Vitiligo Society has taken the latest information, and with the help of a number of parents and teachers, created an incredible new School Support Pack for you to download.

Our free e-book The Definitive Guide to Vitiligo offers a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about vitiligo.

In addition to this, our online member’s magazine offers a selection of the articles that you may find interesting, even as a non-member you can view two articles every month.

We believe in the power of children seeing peers with vitiligo being able to thrive and embrace their unique appearance. Our Society is really fortunate to have a team of incredible young ambassadors who are unafraid to show their spots, speak out about their vitiligo, and share words of encourage for other kids to do the same!