The direct cause of vitiligo is still unknown, but those of us who have it definitely see a correlation between stressful times in our lives and the spreading of vitiligo patches. Okay, maybe we can’t cure vitiligo right now, but that doesn’t mean we can’t actively take steps to mitigate new white patches from appearing.
Periodically I will find information about a supplement or particular fruit, spice, or other food item, that may hold the key to either repaint maintain my skin or turning off the gene for vitiligo. To date, none of them have worked for me. That said, I can tell you that over the 20 years that I have had vitiligo, the spreading has been minimal. I attribute this to making time daily to relax. The Importance of Routines to Slow Vitiligo Spreading
I know what you’re thinking, ”duh, everyone knows relaxing helps everything. it’s not that simple.” Let me clarify. When I say relax, I don’t mean sit in a quiet place and breathe. I do little things that create a serene atmosphere so I can feel calm. You might even call them daily rituals or routines, because in the end, I think it’s the repetition of an action mixed with a feeling of controlling that particular situation that feels satisfying, and in-turn, relaxing.
My favorite daily ritual is the nighttime routine that I began years ago. It not only helps me wind down for the evening, it also helps me get a good nights sleep. In another post I’ll talk about why it’s so important to sleep well.
As a precursor, let me explain that when I first decided to have a nightly routine I took some time to prepare my bedroom. I put things that I don’t need daily easily accessible in my closets, I thinned out tabletop items to just things that I like looking at and that mean something to me.
I am a night owl, so it is not easy for me to stop whatever I am doing and get ready for bed. As a matter of fact, the only thing that entices me into beginning my nighttime routine is knowing how good it makes me feel.
The first thing I do before going upstairs is do a quick sweep of my living room and kitchen to straighten them up so when I come downstairs in the morning I won’t feel overwhelmed with things that need to be done. Next I go upstairs to take off my make up and brush my teeth. Then I go into my bedroom and put away any clothes that may be lying around because I couldn’t decide what to wear that day. Once I get into bed, I either read a book for a little while, or if I’m very tired I just turn on the white noise on my iPhone, set the phone charging on my nightstand, fluff my pillows a couple of times and plot my head down to sleep.
It’s so simple and ordinary, but sticking to this routine has made a huge difference in my life. I sleep better and more importantly, in a weird way, it gives me a sense of accomplishment and control. Feeling in control of situations in your life is so necessary in order to build your self-esteem and to feel peaceful inside. And both of those things are so necessary to stave off the spreading of vitiligo.