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Original poster

To be shocked by multiple white patches on child’s face after foreign sun exposure

118 replies

TraciePollins · 14/08/2026 00:47

Currently on holiday in Turkey. Very very very hot.
DD is 12 and after about 6 days of sun, her face has developed multiple very white patches all over her cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. The white patches are really noticeable as in between these white patches is very tanned skin.
I have applied SPF50 waterproof to her face every 2-3 hours all day every day from the minute we leave our hotel until sunset since we've been here. Kept in shade plenty in between sea and pool.
She has never ever had this before and we've been on plenty of summer holidays in hot weather before, but this is her first time in heat as strong as Turkey.
So now she has a face which is white irregular patches of skin in between tanned skin all over her face.
When we left England 6 days ago she had the same normal complexion with the same colour skin all over her face that she's had all her life.
I'm shocked as I've never seen her skin do this before. Never any sign of it ever in her life.
What on earth has happened?
She's crying because it is freaking her out - the multiple white patches really stand out against the darker tanned skin surrounding the white patches. Her face looks completely different now compared to how it did a week ago before coming away.
What is this? Will it go away?

OP posts:
AtlasCedar · 14/08/2026 16:06

Zonder · 14/08/2026 09:38

Oh yes. Foreign sun is dangerous and unpredictable. Not like our lovely British sun.

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I mean the angle means it is more likely to burn. British sun is weak. Because the UK sits far north on the globe, the sun stays low in the sky. This low angle spreads solar energy over a wider area and forces the light to travel through more of Earth's atmosphere, which filters out its warmth and power.

So yes, foreign sun is more dangerous to fair skin.

AtlasCedar · 14/08/2026 16:04

TraciePollins · 14/08/2026 01:03

If it is vitilgo, why has she never had any signs of it before now though?
She's had years of summers of sun exposure and has never before had this, which is confusing me.

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It’s something that develops. It’s not present from birth. DH started getting it age about 19 - on his back and foot mostly. Hes ginger so it’s not very obvious.

Suntherebutnotthere · 14/08/2026 15:44

Coconutter24 · 14/08/2026 13:50

There is obviously only one sun, you are correct but ‘foreign sun’ is actually a thing. The atmosphere, humidity, location all have an effect. Things like how close you are to the equator change things like UV rays. Altitude also has an impact. All those factors make the sun feel different hence the name ‘foreign sun’

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I actually burn in UK only😂 it's ridiculous but I so far have not burned anywhere rlse in Europe (grew up outside of UK), North africa or ME where I spend few years. I am sunburn mystery I guess!

AnnesPuffedSleeves · 14/08/2026 14:47

MayaPyjama · 14/08/2026 08:36

Factor 50 isn’t proper sun protection though - factor 50 while wearing UV protective hats to shade your face while being primarily being in the shade and out of the sun completely between 11am and 3pm.

Of course most people don’t adhere to that, which is why the PP was faux confused and not actually confused.

It is possible though, DH has recently come back from a week in Majorca and is not any more tanned than when he went (he’s still milk bottle white) because he didn’t leave the shade for more than 15-20 mins a day.

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But that’s not very practical for a child on holiday, is it? What child is never going to spend more than 15 minutes in the sun? I am extremely careful with sun protection for my child, and use UV hat etc but there’s no point in going on holiday if you don’t let kids out of the shade.

Coconutter24 · 14/08/2026 13:50

catmothertes1 · 14/08/2026 03:06

Foreign sun? I did not know that there were more than one sun.

There is obviously only one sun, you are correct but ‘foreign sun’ is actually a thing. The atmosphere, humidity, location all have an effect. Things like how close you are to the equator change things like UV rays. Altitude also has an impact. All those factors make the sun feel different hence the name ‘foreign sun’

jsfv · 14/08/2026 13:43

Sounds like Tinea Versicolour

Retro12 · 14/08/2026 13:36

TraciePollins · 14/08/2026 01:03

If it is vitilgo, why has she never had any signs of it before now though?
She's had years of summers of sun exposure and has never before had this, which is confusing me.

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I didn't get mine until I was about 9, my brother-in-law got his first patch in his 40's. Both of ours was after a lot of sun exposure.

Retro12 · 14/08/2026 13:32

It sounds like vitiligo - Make sure she keeps her face shaded and the highest sun screen as the lighter skin tans very easily.

Fgfgfg · 14/08/2026 13:24

See a doctor. It could be fungal and easily treated or vitiligo and related to an autoimmune condition. DP developed vitiligo in his 30's and was also diagnosed with a thyroid problem. He's very pale so most of the time he's the same colour as his vitiligo but a light tan reveals the big white patch on his head (it doesn't come and go as some people have said). You need to be extra careful with the SPF because there's no melanin in the skin.

Lararoft · 14/08/2026 13:07

My sister has this on her stomach & uses fake tan to even out the patchy look.
So if your daughter sees a GP & it is vitiligo & she is still very self conscious, maybe try experimenting with some good facial self tanner while she’s still on holiday. But do make sure she still wears a cream with spf50 every day even in the UK.

ImNotAsThinkAsYouDrunkIAm · 14/08/2026 10:19

Another vote for tinea, but see a doctor.

Gowlett · 14/08/2026 10:05

At her age, hormones will be at play too.

mindutopia · 14/08/2026 10:03

If it’s vitiligo, it’s an autoimmune condition. It can happen any time when your body decides to start attacking itself.

InWithPeaceOutWithStress · 14/08/2026 10:02

Take her to a local pharmacy

Katey83 · 14/08/2026 09:58

TraciePollins · 14/08/2026 01:03

If it is vitilgo, why has she never had any signs of it before now though?
She's had years of summers of sun exposure and has never before had this, which is confusing me.

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My brother and partner have vitiligo and it does sometimes come on suddenly due to sun exposure but 12 is very young. See a dr.

ghostperfume6 · 14/08/2026 09:56

I’m a redhead so don’t really tan but I have vitiligo on just one hand, started in my 30s

To be shocked by multiple white patches on child’s face after foreign sun exposure
wishingonastar101 · 14/08/2026 09:53

when I tan I get white patches - like sun damage in negative. It fades when I am out of the sun. Buy mineral sun cream for babies. it's like gloss paint and gross to put on but does the job. don't use spray sfp. and hats - like all the time. My kids swim in hats.

YYURYYUCICYYUR4ME · 14/08/2026 09:53

The best course, get it checked and diagnosed. My mum (started when she had my brother) and my aunt (dad's sister) had Virtiligo and my aunt unusually was completely white by her 60s. Mum had patches and certainly more pronounced when she had a tan. However, get a dermatology appointment, as I believe their are treatments for Virtiligo now, as an auto immune disease and if something else, then get it sorted. I hope your daughter is OK

Suntherebutnotthere · 14/08/2026 09:50

KimWexlersPonyTail · 14/08/2026 09:33

I have travelled extensively in desert areas and I definitely think 'desert sun' is a thing. I never understand people sun bathing in Egypt, a colleague ended up in hospital he was so badly burnt.

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Because it reflects of the sand as well. Like snow but less. Can blind quite well too. That's partially how people get sun burn when skiing.
If you are in shadow in desert or snow area, you still get tanned because of the reflection.

pollyglot · 14/08/2026 09:40

Do you make her wear a large shady hat and a long-sleeved shirt? oops...hush ma mouth, I didnae RTWT

Zonder · 14/08/2026 09:38

catmothertes1 · 14/08/2026 03:06

Foreign sun? I did not know that there were more than one sun.

Oh yes. Foreign sun is dangerous and unpredictable. Not like our lovely British sun.

catmothertes1 · 14/08/2026 09:36

KimWexlersPonyTail · 14/08/2026 09:33

I have travelled extensively in desert areas and I definitely think 'desert sun' is a thing. I never understand people sun bathing in Egypt, a colleague ended up in hospital he was so badly burnt.

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It was just the way the OP called it "foreign" sun!

KimWexlersPonyTail · 14/08/2026 09:33

catmothertes1 · 14/08/2026 03:06

Foreign sun? I did not know that there were more than one sun.

I have travelled extensively in desert areas and I definitely think 'desert sun' is a thing. I never understand people sun bathing in Egypt, a colleague ended up in hospital he was so badly burnt.

Theseventhmagpie · 14/08/2026 09:16

Lemonymint · 14/08/2026 01:13

Some of posters here are both ignorant and scare mongering. It could well be frugal - tinea verisicolor. See a doctor. If it is tinea versicolor they can prescribe an antifungal. The tropical sun has not destroyed her pigment!

This was my first thought too- the fungal infection, but the child needs to see a doctor. Don’t ask randoms online.
I can’t believe how quickly totally unqualified people will make a “diagnosis”.

RisingSunn · 14/08/2026 09:12

TraciePollins · 14/08/2026 02:09

Thanks. The first patch started on the apple of her cheek. Then spread to both cheeks and now forehead too.
There is none around her mouth/ nose/ eyes.
And there is none at all anywhere else on her body.
I will take her to Dr.

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Something similar used to happen to me as a child - the patch was like a Zoro mask. It just started happening one year - some years more obvious than others. We even started linking it to certain ice-creams as we couldn't figure it out.