Seemingly out of nowhere, my sister is starting to lose pigment on parts of her body. At first she thought it was a scar from a mosquito bite she picked, but it got bigger. And another patch appeared.
And another, and another. From doing our own research, we are pretty sure it’s vitiligo, and we have advised her to go see her doctor to get referred to a dermatologist who specializes in this chronic autoimmune disorder. But she is refusing.
I am not a medical professional, but I’m pretty sure there’s nothing she can do to stop it or reverse it, though I believe there are ways to care for it. And I want to help her embrace the change. How can I be supportive? I am also not a medical doctor or dermatologist, but after doing some research I have found that you are likely correct — there is no cure for this autoimmune problem.
Sometimes patches go away on their own. There are also medicines and medicated creams that can help, as well as different forms of light therapy. But other than changing the colour of your sister’s skin, vitiligo has no other known negative symptoms.
I strongly suggest your sister see a doctor and a dermatologist, and that she talks to a professional to help her get her mental health in a stable place. I can imagine the process of losing pigment in random places can be scary and unnerving, and something one needs to learn to live with healthily. You can support her by taking her to these appointments and reminding her that she is a beautiful person.