Hi Rhonda, I do feel that myself as a 52yo with vitiligo. I’ve had it since a child but it was very minor and unnoticeable until I had my children and it slowly started to spread but still not very noticeable and easy to cover. But when I hit my late 40’s and perimenopause and now menopause it has spread rapidly. I do know that a state of low antioxidants can occur with vitiligo and also that melanin itself is an antioxidant. As we age we lose antioxidants as well so it makes sense that vitiligo may become more severe with age. But if we’re lacking in adequate levels before vitiligo then it makes sense that we may be even lower in antioxidants than others who are our same age as we get older. This would lead to more rapid skin aging among other things so that may be what you notice. I do take antioxidant supplements plus collagen and magnesium and use oils / butters rich in antioxidants on my skin. My vitiligo has not reversed at all but has slowed/ stabilized if I am consistent with these things and keep my stress low. But my doc says that aging and menopause typically accelerate AI diseases.

I have found that the treatments age the skin. The opzelura on my face increases wrinkles where I apply it. More sensitivity to sun as well. I also noticed that i am not producing as many oils in hair or skin which may accelerate skin breakdown. Also noticed goosebumps happen less often. Lol it is very apparent my skin chemistry has changed. That said, the vitiligo has fixed other issues such as pre cancerous sun spots that have dissapeared. On my hands and arms the skin is much smoother.
I do feel like stress affects me more so than before. After a long day I look and feel ragged.

I feel clean and moisturized. No pain from dryness.

Hello Rhonda, If you don't mind me saying but you are beautiful. Have you done any professional modeling? I have since birth, before my Vitilgo at age 45. My last ad was wearing a facemask for 3m
facemask company. I was devastated; and changed my much loved profession. I believed that I was under some kind of curse. After treatment the prescribed ointments and UVB Lights and a good physical and physician to truly examine and explain what vitilgo is and why it happened to me, was when I began to take better care of myself.
New LIFE Change, my daily pray life, exercise, healthy food, clothes, my surroundings, I mean everything. Today I even make LIVING SKIN HOMEMADE ORGANIC SOAP. I don't claim
to know God's purpose but I can say LIVING SKIN HOMEMADE ORGANIC SOAP helps.
Instagram #cecelialcurtis

I was in my 40's, the mother of seven children, when I developed vitiligo. I now have vitiligo totalis, no natural pigment. One of my sisters had a patch of what my mother called vitiligo in the elbow creases of her arm. However, I remember, around my early teens, that my paternal uncle had white splotches on his hands. My mom called it vitiligo. In my early 40's, I suddenly started getting white splotches on my arms and face that eventually covered my entire body. I now have vitiligo totalis - no pigment at all. It was embarrassing when it first began in my 40's as I looked, in my estimation, like a spotted pony. Our kids were on swim team and, like all the other parents, I supported the team by timing swimmers. Of course, it required standing for long periods in the sun, especially during end of summer finals. Girl swimmers were interested in my splotchy arms and legs and asked whether I had gotten a bad sunburn. One day, I answered, "Yes," hoping to encourage the use of suntan lotion and more caution in the hot summer sun. I got used to it because there was nothing I could do to bring the pigment back. And I got used to the questions and the vitiligo as I eventually lost all pigment. The plusses are that vitiligo is not life threatening although it does play havoc with self image in the beginning. There were stares as strangers walked by and there were questions, especially from young people. However, now that I am totally bleached and one tone, my skin looks normal. I do take care to use strong sun block when out in the sun because I have no natural protection and I definitely don't soak up the sun as I did pre-vitiligo. Vitiligo is not the end of the world even though it may seem so when we look like a spotted pony.