5 reasons to welcome winter

Last Updated on 25th October 2024 by Caroline Haye

… and 5 reasons to love summer

Each year, as we reach the end of summer, I find myself trying to hold back time. Willing the trees to hang on to their leaves. And wishing the nights were not drawing in that little bit more with each passing day. People often complain about the weather here in the north of England. Summer temperatures and clear skies rarely match those in the south of the country. But, when so many parts of the world have experienced extreme heat and freak flooding, we have been fortunate. We have enjoyed months of mainly warm and gentle weather. So, I confess that the prospect of damp and chilly months ahead is not an attractive one. However, along with all the joys of summer, I can think of at least 5 reasons to welcome winter too.

How the changing seasons can affect vitiligo

I realise that my enthusiasm for the lazy, hazy days of summer is not typical of someone with vitiligo. In fact, it is so different from my past perspective as to be almost shocking in its contrast. Before my vitiligo reversed (as these pictures of my vitiligo show) “good weather” used to be something other, “normal”, people loved. I, on the other hand, saw nothing but hassle and depression in it. This was a world that consisted of impossible clothes choices and time-consuming camouflage routines. I had an overwhelming sense of being different from everyone around me. And I felt envious and resentful at missing out on the fun and freedom that most people associate with warmth and sunshine.

You may think my attitude back then was negative and destructive. And you would be right. I did try to fight it. And sometimes I succeeded for a while. But it was always there inside me. And the very effort of suppressing it just added to an overwhelming sense of exhaustion. Exhaustion that comes from constantly struggling to hide a progressively disfiguring condition behind a facade of normality. I may sound overly dramatic. But many readers will, I am sure, understand exactly how I felt because they will be feeling the same way. If the state of mind I have just described is familiar to you, then you are probably only too happy to see the days shorten and the winter sweaters come out of mothballs.

Whatever your own perspective may be, I’d like to remind us all that there are always reasons to embrace the changing seasons. So, here – in true blogging tradition – are 5 reasons I would suggest everyone with vitiligo look forward to each summer and 5 reasons to welcome winter too…

5 reasons to love summer (and look forward to the next one)

1. The abundance of sunshine provides natural phototherapy which can stimulate new pigment in your vitiligo patches.
2. In my experience, sun-induced re-pigmentation is more likely to occur (and be permanent) if you also give your body the nutrients it needs. And, luckily, many of these nutrients are in the foods we enjoy eating during warm weather. Lots of salads, fresh vegetables and fruits, better quality meats and fish… and less starch and stodge.
3. Sunshine helps to top up vitamin D in the skin (as long as you don’t cover up all the time). Low levels of vitamin D are very common in countries that lack sun exposure in the winter and even lower among vitiligo sufferers. So it is important not to hide away from the sun.
4. Covering up with cool clothing on a really hot day can be a real pleasure. It can provide a welcome opportunity for vitiligo sufferers to have their summer cake and eat it. A chance to enjoy relaxing outdoors without feeling conspicuous.
5. Long evenings, when there is less pressure to bare all and little risk of sunburn, can provide a wonderful way to “join the rest of the human race”. It is an opportunity to enjoy feeling sociable and at ease.

5 reasons to welcome winter

1. The prospect of a more even skin tone, as your summer tan fades and the contrast between your vitiligo patches and normal skin reduces.
2. The pleasures of wrapping up in soft, warm clothing and not having to think about revealing any de-pigmented skin.
3. The comforts of cosy evenings in front of the fire and eating your favourite winter foods. (Nutritious soups and hearty stews, I hope, rather than too much sticky toffee pudding!).
4. Being able to relax and enjoy traditional winter celebrations with friends and family.
5. Winter sports and frosty walks in the countryside: these are a match for the best therapies money can buy.

The best season is always NOW!

I feel immensely grateful that I am able to embrace the summer months (now that I more or less have my normal skin colour back). But maybe I need to remind myself that winter has its own delights which should be also be savoured. For so many years I longed for each summer to end. I couldn’t wait to hide my patchy skin from the world for another few months. But perhaps the heightened sense of euphoria that I now feel each summertime has dulled my appreciation of the rest of the year.

​That’s why I want to re-focus on all the good things winter has to offer. After all, no one wants to wish their life away yearning for the months to pass. Life is far too short as it is. So, from now on, I am determined to embrace the shorter days. I shall admire the dramatically leafless trees. And I shall marvel at the frozen ground and the icy winds that take my breath away. Because, when you come to think about it more deeply, there are actually countless reasons (not just five) to appreciate every season. And the best way to enjoy each one is to recognise the fact that the best time of year is always right NOW.