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

[TraciePollins]

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?

This - what is she using in her skin ?

Are you bloody joking?
I am covering myself in SPF50 (a decent well known brand) every 2 to 3 hours as I'm fanatical about it for myself and DC, and I'm tanned as fuck.
I said SPF 50, not sun block SPF 100.

Can't bear sanctimoniousness.

Ok we've been to a private dermatology clinic today. Very easy to arrange here. She's got Pityriasis Alba!
I'm so glad I know what it is now.
Thanks loads to everyone who replied helpfully to me and took the time to message with advice.
Except for the Australian poster whose post made my head hurt with not being able to even begin to understand the comparison being made.

If you grew up outside of the UK and the sun burns you when in the UK that’s your ‘foreign sun’ 😂 It’s probably because in the UK we think ah it’s not that hot I’ll be fine, so we drop our guard with sun protection

Suncream is not sunblock. Even with F50 you can get a tan

Glad you know what it is, and that it’s nothing exceptionally gruesome in the scheme of things. I would like to apologise for know it all Aussie. I am Aussie also and a lot of my countrymen seem to think we know everything about the sun and the damage it can do. I have lived in Europe and know that it feels entirely different depending on where you are. The sun in Turkey or Greece is a lot stronger and much more “burny” than the same temperature in Northern Europe. You have been protecting your kid from sun damage by consistently applying spf, and you don’t deserve to be vilified for this.

Not sure why the Australian poster's mild factual remark upset you so much.

As the saying goes: "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun."

Sounds like pityriasis rosecea to me. A fungal infection.

My sister has vitiligo and one parent is absolutely a cunt. You might be onto a medical breakthrough here 😁

It didn't upset me darling. I said I was confused. Let's not make things up.😘

I have vitiligo and, though never formally diagnosed, my parents both had cunt traits. I think you'd have to do a comparative study, though, including people without vitiligo, to see whether there were differences in the rate of parental cuntishness between those with and without the disease.

Just seen your update, @TraciePollins . I'm really glad that the worrying uncertainty is over, and that the condition your daughter has is something unconcerning. xx

I think there’s a grain of real truth in this. I definitely developed my vitiligo in response to stress and trauma (as are a lot of autoimmune things).

Nothing says "not upset" better than a passive aggressive post.

It was absolutely trauma in my Dsis. She was 17, a life with AWFUL parents and then was dumped in the most heartbreaking way by a terribly mediocre boy. She was so devastated. She got very, very sick and then after began losing all her pigment which was absolutely the cherry on the shit sundae. It's not even just the skin. Her eyebrows, hair and skin went white piece by piece.

It blocks 98% though! Take longer than a holiday to get a tan.

it does sound like vitiligo and you’ve never noticed before because she usually doesn’t have a suntan. It’s not easy to notice on fair skin

That’s not 100% is it so you’re still catching the sun. I used to use F50 and top up every few hours and still get a tan (as do most people on holiday)