“The time of summer always brings the best of what might be.”
When author Charles Bowden wrote this line, he was not thinking about those living with vitiligo. Even with more people educating themselves about the disease and normalising it, those suffering from it still have a hard time, especially during summers.
It is the season of shorts and pool parties, of basking in the warmth of the sun. But, for most people with this skin condition, summer comes off as a difficult time of the year because they feel obliged to cover themselves up even in the sweltering heat.
Have you ever seen someone in full-sleeved clothes even in the summer heat and wondered what is wrong with them?
Well, maybe they have low self-esteem brought by this skin condition and want to avoid the curious eyes of strangers.
Even with new vitiligo treatment options emerging in recent times, summer can be harsh for the people affected by it for various reasons. Below are a few instances of why summertime is not friendly for those living with this skin condition.
- Increased risk of sunburns
Sunburn is not a pleasant experience.
“Normal skin” has a pigment called melanin, which gives skin its natural colour and also provides protection against sun rays. However, for people affected by vitiligo, the affliction results in melanin reduction in patches, thus making the epidermal layer sensitive to sunburn. Direct exposure to the sunlight and heat thus makes it even more painful for them.
Thus, they are much more vulnerable during the summer than at other times of the year.
- Shorts-season is not a pleasant one
Even though supermodel Winnie Harlow struts her stuff in top fashion shows, proudly displaying her vitiligo, most people with this disease feel self-conscious to reveal their skin. It especially becomes a problem during summer when they feel the need to cover themselves up even in the heat.
- Drawing attention in crowds
Summer means picnics, going out to explore places and hanging out with friends.
But, for people whose vitiligo diagnosis brought a positive result, summer can be quite isolating as well. Especially, with summer bringing people out of their homes in hordes, common places can get quite crowded. The fear of drawing judgemental eyes towards themselves can thus make people suffering from this skin condition self-conscious.
The sun is, thus, not always a blessing for everyone!
However, there are ways through which people affected with vitiligo can still make the most of summer. Using sunscreen liberally, planning activities in the evenings instead of daytime, etc. are a few ways through which they can enjoy summer without letting the sun hamper their time.
Also, the most important thing is to love yourself for who you are. After all, our differences from the others are what make us unique!