Vitiligo: How to make it less visible and prevent spreading

How do I prevent vitiligo from getting worse?

Vitiligo can be unpredictable. Focusing on behaviors that you can control may help you feel better. That’s why board-certified dermatologists share the following tips with their patients who have vitiligo:

1. Protect your skin from the sun. Skin that has lost its natural color tends to sunburn easily. A bad sunburn can worsen vitiligo.
   
   If you have a lighter skin tone, there’s another advantage to protecting your skin from the sun. Without a tan, the spots and patches of vitiligo are often less noticeable.
   
   To protect your skin from the sun, dermatologists recommend that you:

   • Seek shade. Shade plays an important role in protecting your skin from the sun. Keep in mind that the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. You can also look at your shadow. Any time your shadow is shorter than you, find shade.
   • Wear clothing that protects your skin from the sun. The right clothing offers you one of the best ways to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. To protect your skin from the sun with clothing, wear a lightweight and long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses with UV protection. Some patients prefer to look for clothing that comes with an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) number on the label. If you prefer UPF clothing, choose clothes that have a UPF 30 or higher.
   • Use sunscreen every day when outdoors. You want to apply sunscreen to all skin that clothing will not cover. To get the protection you need, wear sunscreen that offers all the following:
     
     
     • Broad-spectrum protection
     • Water-resistance
     • SPF 30 or higher
     • Tint (if you have a darker skin tone)
     For sunscreen to protect you, you need to apply it at least 15 minutes before going outside.
     
     You also need to reapply your sunscreen. When outdoors, reapply it every 2 hours and after spending time in the water or sweating.

   Patches and spots of vitiligo sunburn easily

   Sun protection can prevent a bad sunburn, which can worsen vitiligo.

   

2. Avoid tanning — indoors and outdoors. Tanning can make your vitiligo more noticeable because it increases the contrast between your natural skin color and the light spots and patches. Keep in mind that tanning beds, sun lamps, and other indoor tanning devices are also not safe alternatives to the sun. Like the sun, indoor tanning devices can burn skin that has lost pigment and worsen vitiligo.

3. Use makeup, self-tanner, or skin dyes if you’d like to add color to your skin. If you wish to cover up vitiligo (not everyone does), this advice from dermatologists can help you get the best results:

   • Use a waterproof product.
   • Keep in mind that self-tanners and skin dyes tend to last 3 to 5 days and makeup one day.
   • Choose a self-tanner or skin dye that contains dihydroxyacetone.
   • It takes practice to get natural-looking results.

4. Avoid cuts, scrapes, and burns. For some people, a skin injury triggers new spots or patches. Do your best to avoid injuring your skin.

   If you decide not to treat vitiligo, it’s still important to see a dermatologist

   Vitiligo is a medical condition, not just a cosmetic concern.

   

5. Know the risks of getting a tattoo. While it can be tempting to cover up a light spot or patch with a tattoo, this can cause problems.
   
   When you get a tattoo, you wound your skin. A wound can lead to something called the Koebner phenomenon, which can cause new spots of vitiligo to develop on skin you injure. The new spots and patches appear about 10 to 14 days after the injury.
   
   If you get a tattoo to add pigment to your skin, there’s also a risk that the tattoo won’t blend in with your natural skin color or that the color will eventually bleed. The vitiligo that you’re trying to cover up can also spread over time.

6. Support your immune system with a healthy lifestyle. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system is attacking healthy cells.
   
   To support your immune system, dermatologists recommend that you reduce stress and eat a balanced, nutritious diet.

7. Take care of your mental health. If you feel depressed or self-conscious about changes to your appearance, tell your dermatologist. To help you feel better, your dermatologist may recommend counseling or a support group.

8. Learn about vitiligo. Knowing about treatment, what can cause vitiligo to spread, and other facts can help you decide what’s right for you. Knowledge also allows you to play an active role in your care, which some people say helps them feel more in control.

9. Connect with others who have vitiligo. The emotional aspects of having vitiligo are often overlooked, but they are real.

   Joining a support group allows you to connect with others who have vitiligo

   Many people say that having support helps them feel less lonely, stressed, or depressed.

   

While self-care can help you feel better, it’s also important to see a board-certified dermatologist. Having vitiligo increases the risk of developing some other diseases like thyroid disease. A dermatologist can monitor you. If you have symptoms of another disease, your dermatologist will refer you to a doctor who can treat the disease.

You can locate a dermatologist in your area by going to Find a dermatologist.

Related AAD resources

• Is vitiligo a medical condition?

• Vitiligo discomfort stops with sunscreen use

Images
Getty Images

References
American Academy of Dermatology. “How to care for skin with vitiligo.” News release issued June 13, 2023. Last accessed April 13, 2026.

Rodrigues M, Ezzedine K, et al. “Vitiligo Working Group. Current and emerging treatments for vitiligo.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2017 Jul;77(1):17-29.

Manga P, Elbuluk N, et al. “Recent advances in understanding vitiligo.” F1000Res. 2016 Sep 6;5:F1000 Faculty Rev-2234.

Wongpraparut O, Wannawittayapa T, et al. “Knowledge, attitude, and behavior of photoprotection in Thai vitiligo patients.” Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2025 Dec 28;18:3635-44.

Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS

Reviewed by:
Jennifer Adams, MD, DTM&H, FAAD
Estaban Fernandez Faith, MD, FAAD
John E. Harris, MD, PhD, FAAD
Roopal Kundu, MD, FAAD
William Warren Kwan, MD, FAAD
Darrell S. Rigel, MD, MS, FAAD
Desmond Shipp, MD, MSBS, FAAD

Last updated: 4/15/26