This is my first time to the forum and I'm glad I found it. I've had vitiligo for most of my life but up until the last four years it was contained to mainly places where I could conceal it, i.e. legs. About four years ago it started to appear on my face, hands and neck...no more hiding, the "secret" was out! I've lost most of the color on my hands and neck and about 50% on my face.
I've spent about an hour reading thru various posts and can really relate to many of your experiences. I'd like to share this with someone...Be encouraged! Yeah, this thing sucks but it could be worse. There are people who are confined to wheelchairs and dying of cancer and other diseases.
This is how I make it through each day...I am grateful for what I have, versus focusing on what I don't have. None of us knows what the future holds with this disorder. It has the ability to consume our every waking moment...if we let it. We don't have to let this thing control us. All of us have a lot of life still in front of us...let's enjoy it. We can waste away and let this defeat us or we can choose to make the best of this hand we've been dealt.
Life is about choices, ladies and gentlemen. My heart goes out to each and everyone of you. I understand the frustration that comes with stares from other people. I know about having to ignore comments from small kids. Choose to be positive versus focusing on the negative.
Be encouraged! This is not the end of the world (although it does seem like that sometimes). Most of us still have the ability to make the best out of life...it's our choice weather we choose to enjoy and make the most of life or let someone else steal our joy.
I pray that this encourages someone or somehow brightens just one persons day. I will continue to be a part of this site in the small hope that I can help someone else through this battle.