Summer is here, and with it come opportunities to enjoy the longer, hotter days. This means added exposure to the sun. Most folks know how to protect their skin from sunburn, but if you have a chronic skin condition like vitiligo, which makes your skin more prone to it, you have to be more careful.
Vitiligo is a chronic skin condition in which a lack of melanin, the pigment in the skin, causes white patches to develop. These white patches can appear anywhere, but usually they appear on the face, neck, hands, and in skin creases. These pale patches can burn more easily, so if you have vitiligo, you need to use TLC by applying sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and wearing UV-blocking clothes, such as cover-ups, that offer comfort, maximum sun protection, and suit your personal style. But before you head to the beach or pool, consider the following for optimum sun protection if you have vitiligo.
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If this is your first time using vitiligo makeup, you have many effective choices. High-pigment cosmetic camouflage, self-tanning stains, or skin-tone blending lotions are good water-resistant options. These are transfer-resistant and match your face and body’s natural skin tone. Decide what kind of coverage you want: immediate, temporary makeup, or a longer-lasting stain.
This makeup is highly pigmented. It includes professional-grade creams and foundations that provide complete concealment of vitiligo discoloration: Dermablend Cover Creme or Kryolan Dermacolor are two examples that work well for vitiligo. Dermablend Cover Creme is dermatologist-tested, providing an SPF 30 and full coverage. When set with its loose powder, it can last up to 16 hours. Kryolan is makeup artists’ preferred brand and uses a three-step process (camouflage cream, fixing powder, and fixing spray) to keep it water-resistant.
If you want to avoid daily foundation application, try self-tanning dyes. They stain the lighter colored skin to match your natural tone. Vitiligo Vanquish and Zanderm pens are two to try. Vitiligo Vanquish is lightweight and transfer-resistant. It can be custom-blended to match your exact undertone. Zanderm pens are best for spot treating smaller areas and hands. They are a portable, easy-to-apply, quick-drying liquid.
This is different from what you might expect from most makeup. Skin tone-blending lotions don’t sit on top of the skin. These lotions absorb into your skin after a few hours. Vitiligo Cover Lotion is popular and water-resistant, with buildable color that lasts up to five days.
RELATED: Vitiligo 101: The Truth About The Skin Condition
Makeup can give you a smooth, even look. While it provides some sun protection, what you wear when out in the sun can offer more protection and block UV rays.
Whether you are lounging or headed to a resort, breathable fabrics give you a comfortable yet elevated style. Cotton eyelet tops and tunics that are loose and long-sleeved or maxi and midi long beach dresses can shield you from the sun, cover the body, and be fashionable.
Light, breathable hoodies and zip-ups with UPF 50+ do a good job of covering your arms and torso. Rash guard one-piece swimsuits for women offer UV protection for the chest, butt, and arms when you decide to move from poolside or beachside to take a dip and enjoy a swim.
Sarongs and wraps cover your legs. Tie-front wraps let you control how much skin you show. Additionally, lightweight, wide-legged poolside pants are chic and protect your legs from direct sun exposure.
It is easier to match lighter skin tones. Darker skin tones have a greater contrast between the patches and natural skin tones. Although lighter skin tones blend more easily with makeup and are easier to touch up, they are more prone to sunburn and require more protection. While camouflage waterproof makeup is available for both, if you don’t get custom shade-matching and have a darker skin tone, it can leave an ashy or unnatural look.
As with most consumer products, especially makeup, you have to be able to distinguish marketing claims from reality. The Vitiligo Society’s highest ratings go to long-lasting dihydroxyacetone (DHA) stains and specialized camouflage creams and body makeup.
DHA is a liquid dye that darkens the white spots instead of requiring foundation, which can be thick and heavy. With low to middle ratings on sites like Amazon.com from users, they praise the semi-permanent nature of this product, as it can last up to five days. But user reviews say they don’t like how hard it can be to find the right shade.
Similarly, users of specialized camouflage creams and body makeup give these products a middle-to-high rating of four out of five stars. These individuals don’t like the difficulty of finding the closest shade online for these products or the heavy feel in summer heat, but they do appreciate their transfer resistance and the fact that they don’t clog pores.
There are several takeaways of the perks of camouflage makeup if you have vitiligo:
The question is, after camouflage and cover-ups, are you having fun? Is it all worth it? Using cosmetic camouflage for vitiligo extends beyond simple vanity, just as choosing protective cover-ups involves much more than a mere interest in fashion. The precautions you take with vitiligo help you maintain adequate SPF and physical UV protection while reducing psychosocial barriers posed by unwanted public attention associated with this chronic skin condition. They improve quality of life and boost self-esteem. They also ensure comfort and help you to go unnoticed despite something that makes you look different. This does not mean you have to be an ambassador for your condition and explain vitiligo to the unaware. Lastly, you don’t have to feel less-than, unworthy, or unable to have fun because of a difference in appearance.
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