Vitiligo

My Experience with Vitiligo

I look into the mirror, and gasp loudly when I catch a glimpse of myself. My abdomen is covered with patches of pale, milky-white skin - my vitiligo is painfully evident.

I was diagnosed with vitiligo when I was fifteen. After a week of skin irritation and an itchy rash, my parents were concerned enough to take me to the doctor. The news of my diagnosis was tragic and shocking - I was terrified to see the inside of a hospital and to take up treatment.

Living day to day with vitiligo can be a challenge. My skin often becomes extremely dry and starts to flake off, resulting in stress and worry. I cannot forget the fear and dread I experience when a new patch of white skin appears on my body. I try my best to cover up the affected areas with long sleeves and trousers, but I am acutely aware that people are staring.

I have never felt fully comfortable with my physical appearance. Vitiligo has made me self-conscious and even more insecure. There are days when I cannot bring myself to leave the house. Even when I do step out, I worry that people are gossiping about me behind my back. Despite this, I stay as positive as I can and try to accept the way I look.

I find comfort in the small successes - successfully completing a semester of university, promoting in my job, and establishing a sense of identity by supporting multiple charities and getting involved in clubs. I always wished I could talk to someone with vitiligo to get a better idea how to cope, but sadly, no one I knew had it.

I remember how I felt when I first met someone with vitiligo. Like me, his patches were on his arms and legs. We talked and exchanged stories and he inspired me to be more confident in myself and embrace my condition. I finally had an outlet for my frustration and worries.

It doesn’t matter how many times I look in the mirror, I will never be too ashamed of my vitiligo. A special quote by Nipun Monga has kept me going for the past few years: “Behind every life’s situation, there’s a message. If not found, it reflects.” I take this as a mantra each day and keep going.

Vitiligo has opened my eyes to others experiences of self-love and acceptance. I have accepted that this is part of me and use it as an inspiration to tell my story. I can now look into the mirror and marvel in how beautiful the contrast between the white and black skin really is - I am comfortable in my own skin and no long fight with self-doubt and insecurity.

Every day, I strive to show that it is okay to be different. Vitiligo has made me more sensitive and understanding to others who feel different. For anyone who feels like this is easy, you should know that it’s not. I still have bad days but I know that it is part of living with this condition.

My experience with vitiligo has been full of emotions, but I have grown as a person. With the knowledge I have gained, I hope to spread awareness and acceptance and show others that it is possible to be comfortable with your own skin. There’s no shame in having vitiligo and you do not need to hide yourself away.

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disorder that involves a loss of skin color in white patches. It occurs when the cells responsible for skin pigment, called melanocytes, are destroyed or damaged. People with vitiligo appear to have lighter or white patches of skin, typically on their face, hands, arms, and feet. Vitiligo can affect people of any age and is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

Vitiligo is not caused by poor hygiene or a skin infection, and it cannot be spread from one person to another. People affected by vitiligo often experience low self-esteem because of the visible discoloration of their skin. Treatment options for vitiligo include topical creams, light therapy, and surgery.

Most topical creams contain medications designed to slow or stop the melanocyte destruction process. There are also creams to increase skin pigmentation in the affected areas. In some cases, light treatments, including laser and phototherapy, may also be helpful in restoring skin pigmentation. If these treatments do not prove to be effective, or if a person’s vitiligo is extensive, surgery may be an option. Surgeons may transplant healthy melanocytes from one part of the body to an area that has been affected by vitiligo.

Treatment for vitiligo is not always successful, and some people will still have visible patches of depigmented skin. However, there are ways to help manage the condition. Sun protection, including wearing hats and sunscreen, can help protect the depigmented areas from ultraviolet rays. Additionally, make-up can be used to conceal the affected areas. Lastly, seeking emotional support from family, friends, and mental health professionals can also be very beneficial.

Vitiligo can be a difficult condition to manage, but with the proper care and treatment, it is possible to control the condition and lead an active and healthy life.