There are so many vitiligo success stories and I am one of them. I am proud to say that vitiligo no longer holds sway over my life and choices. And I believe this is possible for everyone that has vitiligo.
My vitiligo success story is perhaps a bit different than you might expect. I have had vitiligo for just over ten years now. It has slowly grown to more and more areas of my body. My face, my hands, my legs, my feet and my chest.
There was a time when I would not ever where sandals. Only shoes that covered my feet. There was a time when I never wore shorts. Until last year, I had not been swimming. For almost 6 years I never went to a pool party or went swimming in the ocean.
For me, going outside was difficult. Facing the world with two skin colors was something I was afraid to do.
What changed? What led to my success with vitiligo? It was one day at a time, deciding that being afraid of the world, afraid of judgement, afraid of rejection was a waste of my time and other peoples time too.
I started to face my fears. Socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually. One fear after another was faced. One awkward moment after another. And there were many. Still more to come I am sure. And I am happy to be able to say that vitiligo is something I rarely think about as something I am afraid of.
I am not afraid of more depigmentation. Its happening. I am losing pigment here and there.
But I am not scared of it to the point where it disables me. In fact it enables me! Vitiligo enables me to see the fiction of cosmetics. The fictions of our socially constructed notions of beauty and attractiveness. I am able to see more clearly myself and other people. I can see people more clearly as themselves.
It’s a thrill to know that sunshine and peoples gazes are sources of encouragement for me. That is my vitiligo success story.
What’s your vitiligo success story? If you have vitiligo you have one. And you will have many vitiligo success stories. I can’t wait to hear them.
HI,
I am a 15 year old girl who has a lot of vitiligo. I have had it for almost 10 years as well. I guess I have gotten used to it… Sometimes I forget about it. But other times, it is all I see. I started a new high school last year, and the first year was really hard. I thought my vitiligo was all people saw. In some cases, it was. But I learned to ignore those people. But, it sucks because I am really scared what people think of me. I almost wish people would ask. It scares me of what people assume it is. Especially high schoolers. But, it has made me grow up faster, and mature. I have written a short book on it. That helped me get my feelings out. No one has read it.. I feel like I can’t really talk about it with someone who doesn’t have it, you know? Sometimes it just makes me really sad… thanks for this website. really, thank you…
Hey!
I am so happy to hear about you growing faster. Maturing. That is wonderful.
And writing a journal is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You will only continue to grow in those pages.
Thank you! I am grateful to you for stopping by.
– Keith
Plz use Harbal Treatment
I Just found your website. I first noticed some de-pigmentation maye just a year or so ago. It’s on a pretty hidden area of my body, so at first I just made a joke and laughed. I tend to do that a lot. Deep down I was scared. My next door neighbor has it and I have seen how far it has progressed over the years. I eventually had a good cry when I admitted to myself that it would eventually spread and I have to come to terms with that. Today, after being in the sun about an hour, I noticed that all the tips of my fingers are losing pigment. I guess as a woman, it does come down to vanity. It’s hard to imagine meeting a man in my future who did not know me before vitiligo. I started feeling “rushed” to think about meeting Mr. Right before this afflicts my face. I realize that is pretty silly and irrational. I mean, I don’t want to be loved or judged for that matter based solely on my physical appearance. But, the realist in me does admit that it will be challenging. Sigh. Well, I’m glad I found your site. I’ve enjoyed reading your story and all the comments.
Read my post on the supplement cure your body so desperately needs!
Hi Sarah
Hope you are well
How is your Vitiligo doing ? Progressing or Stable ?
Mine is currently mostly on my hands and arms
I am worried that it might spread to my face.
I do not know how to stop it from spreading and also cant afford the “treatment” options out there, its just too expensive
I see poor people daily and also disabled and sometimes blind, then I think to myself would I rather be blind or disabled or starving or have Vitiligo
The answer is easy, I’d rather jave Vitiligo.
Yes its uncertain what would happen in 1, 5 or even 10 years, but that’s way in the future and worrying about it now won’t help much
So for me I take it day by day
I also have type 1 diabetes for the past 8 years, having to inject insulin 4 times a day and theroid desease.
My doctor said he has never seen anyone with 3 auto immune diseases before
I do excercise to help me living healthier and that also helps to maintain a more stable blood sugar.
If its Mr Right the Vitiligo wont matter at all
Hope to hear from you
Regards
Bernard
I remember when Michael Jackson was on Oprah and he was heartbroken in his disclosing of having vitligo. No one knew what it was…but I emphatically did as I watched him talk to Oprah explaining why he wore the coveted glove and all the band aids wrapped around his fingers. I sat there in tears having vitiligo myself…. covered up to the neck in the summers… buying concealing clothing so I would look ” perfect” and uniform. No one knows the cause of vitiligobut I can tell you what it is not. Voodoo wicked curse…lepersey ….recessive gene warfare..the road to insanity…less than human…. cast away….freak….and all the other adjectives people assign the unknown to dismiss and degrade a human being. I had a hard time with this skin disorder because I came from a very vain up bringing…my mother was queen of glamour as were all my aunts and siblings. She had vitiligo as well as several family members of mine…who try to deal in their own special way. I have gone from product to product trying to remedy my insecurity and only made me feel more insecure…I’m at an age now…where it does not bother me and really never did… what bothered me was people and their vivid imaginations to make you feel something is dreadfully wrong with you when in fact it is just a skin condition….some say perpetuated by stress…. I can partly believe/buy that explanation however if it was chiefly perpetuated by stress in one’s life…why don’t more people have it?? At this point I don’t care… I have no more tears or fears over it… and no longer in the dark about it. I’ve seen various posts about women rocki’n their vitiligo proudly and I too am over this insecurity. I have vitiligo…but it does not nor never did have me…what did have me was people in proximity giving me the negative impression that something was wrong with me and that is what brought on the shame and covering up. It’s wrong..what people do and their opinions are a trap and crippling, in some cases. Hope this post can be an ounce of encouragement for those who have suffered and continue to suffer from a basic skin disorder that does not immobilize your spirit mind or body like so many other diseases do. I love myself….and I always have…. I miss my beautiful brown skin tone but what I miss more is being confident rocking a sundress…. tank tops… and cut off shorts….. NO MAS!! God…gave me the serenity…to accept the things I can not change…courage to change the things I can and the strength and wisdom to know the difference.
Read my lengthy post. You will repigment
I cant deal with it, am 30 n i started having vitiligo when i was 7 or 8..about 8% or 10% of my body.it didnt spread till 3 years back when i started seeing new spots,its spreading every year n am feeling down n withered. every time i decide to feel happy n confident i notice a new spot.am tired of crying.am a girl with high sexual desire,,yeah hehehe..but i have vitiligo in genital areas as well.so i can never have a relationship with a confident..am 30 n so far i didnt have a real bf all because i m not confident..sometimes i cry cause am getting old n i havent tried many things that i always wanted to do..like swimming,wearing short skirts,going out without makeup, and having a great lovemaking. am alone. am tired n i feel i will be better if i find a soul-mate. a soul-mate who will love me for wotever i am.no matter how i look like.i dont have anyyyyyy wish just to be cured.ill be the most happiest girl if i dnt have this condition.it took my life..it took my youth.am an artist.am dealing with beauty and perfections.its hard for me to see myself like this…i wish all of you ppl with this condition be treated.
i wish i could deal with it:(.but i cant.i just cant..
Read my post. You will get repigmented, just don’t expect the doctor to do it for you. You are beautiful!
Hi Sally
Please email me if you have time
35 and have had Vitiligo for a couple of years
sellmyphone1980@gmail.com
Yes,finally others with this vitiligo. I have had vitiligo 12 years.I was sad,mad,and didn’t want to live anymore. at some point I wrote a letter to my two small kids letting them know I loved them,but I just can’t be alive anymore. that day was awful .I got through it vitiligo had affected 90 percent of my body. I’m actually happy about it because I’m almost one color and will soon stop with the make up.I’m blessed to still be here and now I’m not bothered by vitiligo.demablend is my wonder make up for the last 14 years love it
It saddens me that there are not nearly enough comments on a page that praises the success of us who have vitiligo when compared to those that claim to cure this condition.
I believe that true success for those of us who live with Vitiligo does not come from the ways we attempt to conceal these patches of fear and shame, but through the acceptance of ourselves, holding no conditions of worth upon our person, patches or not.
We all have had different walks but have felt the same fear and anxiety when confronted with our reality. From personal experience, there has been no peace greater than that I have felt when I learned to accept myself for what I have and engage my condition with bravery, equip myself with knowledge, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
It is a daily effort.
With that being said, medicine, creams, light therapy, and research have all yielded positive results for a lot of us! There are so many resources to assist us with our management of Vitiligo! But remember, coping with this beautiful affliction begins with our perspective.
I am 24 years old. I am a Dentist. Vitiligo started for me when I was 7 or 8 in lower lips. At that time I took so many medicines from different types of doctors. And it even spreader to my genitals. I lost hope I stopped taking medicines from then on. Now nearly after after 14 years or 15 years after becoming medical professional I started to worry about vitiligo. Now again I started to take medicines. I could see repigmentation. Whatever I gathered I wanted to share with u guys.
1. Strict to diet planning well first. Eat lot of greeny vegetables . Spinach carrot beetroot etc.. Try to avoid certain foods which makes it difficult for digestion
2. Keep ur stomach good. Never make it to constipated level. Go to gym daily or do yogas..
3. Takes some supplements . I take multivitamin syrup..
4. Don’t be stressful. Avoid roaming in too hot climate and swimming in chlorinated water.. Avoid injuries..
5. And take tablets and ointments for repigmentation prescribed by vitiligo specialist doctor..
Hi, my name is Lachlan Van Vliet, and I have Vulgaris Vitiligo. I developed my first Vitiligo patch, a small white spot on my left elbow, when I was ten and a half, in year five. However, it wasn’t until I was eleven that it grew and became noticeable. This happened in year six.
Having Vitiligo has always drawn attention. People I knew always wanted to know what it was, if they were birthmarks or if I got burnt as a kid. The people who knew me before I had it just wanted to know what happened, and if it was contagious. I became self conscious about it, and up until the start of year eight, I wouldn’t be seen without a shirt on.
I noticed it when I went out too. I would walk around town and in shops, and people, especially little kids, would stare at it or look twice when they noticed it. Some people made rude remarks or laughed when they saw me, thinking I wouldn’t hear. I grew to be very defensive about it. I went through a short period of time when I hated being out in public. The main thing I remember from this time was when a little girl saw it. She told me I looked weird, like a cow, and that there was something wrong with me. I screamed at her parents, and ran away.
After graduating primary school in year seven, I moved on to a new high school. No one from primary school went to the same high school as me, I had to start again. I was nervous about when people would see my Vitiligo, and what they would think of it. However, my new school surprised me. From the first day, people were praising it. Some people asked what it was, but they were simply curious, and asked politely, not in a mocking way. People told me is was cool, and I felt as though I was standing out in a good way.
However, while it was praised and liked when I moved schools, the next year I went through a really hard time. This more came from myself. I felt alone, I had never met anyone else with it. During this time I felt as though it was particularly noticeable, and became paranoid people were talking about it behind my back. I struggled with standing out, all I wanted was to fit in, and be invisible. I wanted to be ‘normal’.
Throughout this time, I was mentally and emotionally unstable. I was sensitive about small things, yet still put on a happy face and acted like nothing affected me. Eventually, I got really bad, and ended up seeing a psychologist about it. The psychologist talked to me about it, and told me ways to view it as a positive rather than a negative. I was told about how standing out would help me in my future. My self esteem improved, and I felt better about myself and my Vitiligo.
I’ve now had serious Vitiligo for over three years. This time has had its highs and lows. However, I’ve come to terms with my Vitiligo, accepted it as a part of me, and am now more than happy to live with it. I know that there will always be people who look down upon it, however I also know that their opinions don’t matter. I will not accept treatment, and if a cure is found, I will not use it. My Vitiligo makes me stand out, makes me who I am, and I’m happy I have it.