Vitiligo: More than skin deep
An interesting story on CNN’s website this morning tells of a television news anchor, Lee Thomas, who is dealing with vitiligo, a disease that destroys the pigment of the skin. This anchor has revealed his condition in order to help others who are going through the same thing, something the director of the National Vitiligo Foundation describes as a disease that attacks the soul and psyche.
Another (and much more famous) vitiligo sufferer, Michael Jackson, has often been the subject of choice for late-night jokesters, many insinuating that the change in his skin color was intentional. Most people wouldn’t put anything past a celebrity that would drastically alter his nose and exhibit bizarre behavior, but perhaps we should ponder what role vitiligo might have played in his obvious issues with self-esteem.
When Michael tearfully announced the reason for his changing skin color during an interview with Oprah in 1993, it was evident that the issue was quite painful. After explaining that he used makeup to even out the skin tone, he was asked why he doesn’t use brown makeup. Jackson claimed that most of his skin is already white, so using that much brown makeup was not an option. This was backed up by a statement from Karen Faye, his longtime makeup artist.
It started happening relatively early, he even was trying to hide it from me..he tried to hide it for quite awhile. He’d always try to cover it with makeup and even out his skin tone until it got so extensive. It’s all over his body. We were always trying to hide it and cover it for the longest time until he just had to tell Oprah and tell the world, ‘Listen I’m not trying to be white, I have a skin disease.’
In the beginning I tried to cover the light spots to match the darker part of his skin, but then it became so extensive that we had to go with the lighter part of his skin because his whole body was reacting…he’d have to be in complete full body makeup, every inch of his body. So it was easier to make the transition to him being to the lighter shade that he is.
Skeptics immediately pounced on Jackson, spreading rumors of skin-bleaching products and internalized racism. Many claimed that Michael no longer wanted to be black. Some said that he so despised his father that he altered his very race. Others said that he became unidentifiable sexually and racially so that he could appeal to a broader audience. Despite the naysayers, Michael continued to proclaim pride in his heritage.
I’m a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity.
We tried to control it and using make-up evens it out because it makes blotches on my skin. I have to even out my skin. But you know what’s funny, why is that so important? That’s not important to me.
I’m a great fan of art. I love Michaelangelo, if I had a chance to talk to him or read about him I would want to know what inspired him to become who he is, the anatomy of his craftsmanship, not about who he went out with last night… I mean that’s what is important to me.
I have seen plenty of pictures that would seem to prove that Michael does indeed suffer from this affliction. The following photos were taken a few years ago when Jackson reportedly suffered a life-threatening brown recluse spider bite. Although the wound is the most prominent feature in the photographs, they also reveal that his legs have undergone a dramatic change in skin color.
The following photographs were taken during the filming of Michael’s short film “They Don’t Care About Us”, and they clearly show blotches on his chest and arms.
When one considers the emotional turmoil that such a condition might have on a person that lives in the spotlight, the gloves, surgical masks, and long wigs begin to make a bit more sense. Below are photos of Michael on a recent shopping excursion, wrapped head to toe and covering his skin with adhesive bandages. This man seems so uncomfortable in his own skin that he’s become a tragic shadow of his former self.
As for the news anchor I mentioned earlier, he’s decided to stop wearing makeup when he’s off camera, and believes that vitiligo has actually had a positive impact on his life.
Having this disease forces me to focus on what I am: kind, caring, honest. There are people who have diseases that will kill them.
Read more about vitiligo here.
Comments
Brian, you are right. Now Michael’s disguises do make much more sense to me. I am so very guilty of staring at people with this disease. I had no idea what it was until today. Thank you for helping educate your readers.
This may be one of the most important subjects your blog has ever addressed, Brian.
Lee Thomas is one courageous and commendable man!
Can I just say thank you for your well written report about Lee Thomas and Michael Jackson? I’ve passed by another blog with the same article, yet they still made snide remarks that Michael Jackson still does not have vitiligo! I find this not only humorous, but obvious denial. It is most evident that he has the same vitiligo skin spots as Thomas displayed, in those candid photos from 2002 that his dermatologist released, that of course most people have not seen as well as the behind the scenes shots from the ‘They Don’t Care About Us’ music video.
Excellent post, Brian. Thank you for the education. It does explain a bit more about Michael Jackson’s change in skin color. I wish he would have left the rest of himself more intact, but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said,”This man seems so uncomfortable in his own skin that he’s become a tragic shadow of his former self.”
Lee Thomas is inspiring!
@ fightingwindmills: I have to make an effort not to stare, too. It’s kind of intriguing to me, but I’m sure the afflicted person doesn’t appreciate my interest.
@ Karen: Yes, he is!
@ the floacist: You’re more than welcome. I’m so sick and tired of everyone heaping their hatred on this man. He’s obviously not well, but I honestly don’t believe he’s hurting anyone. By all counts, his children are well-balanced, well-behaved, and well taken care of. That’s all that matters.
@ Moonbeam McQueen: I wish he had, too. There was a period after a couple of nose jobs where I think he was absolutely gorgeous, if in an androgynous way.
There is another reason for MJ to cover himself from head to toe, wearing veils and such: the loss of pigmentation from vitiligo makes the skin extremely sensitive to the sun; a person can burn very quickly. I imagine he needs to protect himself from more than just stares.
Brian (I think it’s Brian) writes: When one considers the emotional turmoil that such a condition might have on a person that lives in the spotlight, the gloves, surgical masks, and long wigs begin to make a bit more sense.
Dear Ones,
I believe if one turned this comment upside-down it would be closer to the truth: that when one considers the emotional turmoil of a person living in the spotlight (alone with early-life trauma,abuse, etc), the vitiligo makes more sense.
Once the vit sets in, it’s the ouroborous (snake biting its own tail) — the emotions equal the vit equal the emotions ad infinitum. The cycle can be broken.
and btw, I love Michael J.
my husband has this on his hand. and no where else. and he is beating his self up thinking that it will some day be on his face. he is 30 years old, and i need help to bring up his spirit. he was going to get a tatoo over it.and he didnt what can i do . plese help me to help him. I love him and when it hurt him it is hurting me too.
@ Sharicka: I wish I could help you in some way, but I don’t know how. Just remind your husband that it doesn’t always spread or worsen, read as much about it as you can, and keep loving him.
Although the complete annihilation of the vitiligo from your body is a difficult matter, whereas original color of skin can be brought back.
Actually vitiligo is irregularity of internal resistive system of human beings, and currently there are no known permanent ways to treat this process.
Vitiligo results from a derangement of your normal defense mechanisms against infection. The body starts producing antibodies against pigment producing cells of its own skin
If you use tropical treatment it is fast and have not side effect.
Never disheart there are always cure of every disease.
Dear Brian
I would like to thank you for this great article. It’s about time people make their own unbiased opinion on Michael Jacksons skin disease.
These days people are quick to believe whatever the mass media likes to say. No one questions the sources from the tabloids.
Not only does Michael wear that much clothes to hide his skin and because he’s dissatisfied with it, but also because direct sun light on such a pale skin can easily cause cancer.
Michael Jackson is the most loving and generous man in the music industry. Not a pedophile nor a freak. Just a loving man that isn’t fake as most of us are! He is just down to earth!
Sharicka, just tell your husband what’s happening to his skin is a beautiful thing. Support him and keep telling him that if it does spread to other places. Because it is a beautiful thing and its only happening for a reason. Its human nature, and its beautiful.
As a person who has vitiligo on my face and hands I wish there was a cure. I didn’t develop vitiligo until I was 26 yo after a bad sunburn. I didn’t personally notice it until a middle aged woman walked up to me and said “I would die if I had those white spots on my face”. That started me to become manic about being staying out of the sun. I wear SPF 85 sun protection to deflect most of the sun rays. I find people are cruel, superficial, and very fake.
I was doing very well in a job where I managed a small group of IT people, and had a good re-pore w/the client (I had been staying out of the sun almost totally for a few years). I was promoted to site manager after the client award my company a 4.2 million dollar contract based on both my and my teams skills. Well, everything was going well until I forgot himself one weekend when I took 20 team members on a weekend canoe trip. It had been so long since I had been out in the sun that I didn’t realize how much my vitiligo had spread. Well, I tan very easily thats why I stay out of the sun (example: I would tan through the car window in the winter). Since I met with important political appointee in the front offices on a regular basis. I was removed from those duties. (an side: I found that people do not like to be put in a position of being uncomfortable so they avoid it or have it removed if they can) After a few weeks my company found a replacement for me and I became a tech again. After a few months I was removed from the site.
Conclusion: I had realized what I had done by going on that weekend trip w/ my team; I exposed my condition which made everyone around me feel uncomfortable.
Its a sad commentary when society is today, values looks more important than the measure of the person.
Today, I have a job and I don’t really care about being tan or not. I am hoping one day they will find a cure (not in my lifetime). Thank god, the woman I married sees me and not my vitiligo. The most important concerns are God and my wife.
One more thing, I have become very knowledgeable on vitiligo. I keep up on the latest information, so if anyone has any questions I can hopefully answer them or direct you to a good resource.
I am 35 years old and developed this disease 2 years ago. Unfortunately it manifested itself on my face, both sides. Initially it was a heart-stopping event in my life that turned my life inside out. I have a beautiful wife that is 13 years younger than me and this disease turned me into a ball of nerves. I took refuge in the fact that my children are well and other things that really matter.
I interact with many people at work and needless to say, that has been the most difficult part. I was ashamed at first and it only compounded my natural shyness.
People in the street or at the market stare but I stare right back. Instead of letting this thing beat me, It has only shaped my character stronger. I am not ashamed to go out and enjoy myself and my family. I am kind, intelligent, responsible, caring, and a good father. I have a great job and my wife and kids are happy and healthy. Can’t ask for more than that.
I do have hope that this thing will disappear one day. One side of my face is nearly back to normal and the other side is shrinking as well. There was a spot on my nose ( that I did not mention) that is gone and has not come back. It has been slow but it can go away in time.
I tried PUVA treatments, taken vitamins B12, folic acid, C, and a chinese herb called vitiligex in addition to managing my stress.
My mother passed away and I stopped taking care of myself for a few months, only to see the patches growing back again.I am not sure which remedy worked but there is hope out there.
Ater reading the Thomas Lee’s memoir “Turning White” Ihave developed a better understanding of the disease call vitiligo. I know that is not curable, it just happens out of nowhere, it does not have to do with genes or geographical locations. I also found out that Micheal Jackson has the same disease.Because he was always in spotlight, he ended up bleaching his skin so the tone can be even. Not because he wants to be white, the media made it looks that way just for publicity.
I am suffering with this disease. I have not more that 3% vitiligo in my body since last 2 years. Many times it is cured but again it appeares in my body. Can I know the reason and permanent cure.
Before the story of the Mj and Mr Lee Vitiligo was not so popular and only few people are aware of this skin condition. Most the patients of the vitiligo was also not know more than this that these are white spots on their skin and the treatment of them is usually imposible. but after the story of these both star vitiligo has become more popular and currently the general awareness is common.
i’m suffering from vitiligo of lip and currently want’s the perfect diet chart for that disease.
I’m a 21 year old female who has had vitiligo for 15 years now. I have it in my face,breasts,arms,and legs. Its pretty severe and it can really take a toll on your emotions,self esteem and keep you from doing a lot of things that you want to do. It doesnt always feel good to be DIFFERENT.
I could not understant the title that is skin deep. in vitiligo skin get to be more thin so why, say it is skin deep.
@ vitiligo: It is more than skin deep, because of the emotional effects that it has on the person suffering from the disease. Pretty self-explanatory really. ;)
I have vitiligo on my eye lids, nose, hands and a lot on the legs. Can someone suggest some stockings or leggings (skin colour) brand to cover them up. Thank you for your suggestion
My little girl who is only 6 has white blotches forming on her leg its making its way down her leg and up her thigh… I hope it does not get any worse. She has fair skin but it is noticeable. I just want my baby girl to know she is still beautiful all over no matter what. I just don’t wont kids to torment her … right now she is still young that kids don’t quite notice it. But as she gets older she will want to put on a bathing suit and she might have an issue…. God bless all of you. You and everyone are beautiful.
I,m 36 and was diagnosed with vitiligo when i was 7. My mum noticed a small white patch on my underarm and it quickly spread from there. Primary school was difficult at times because a boy in my class would blow on any item i,d been in contact with before he,d touch it and soon the rest of the class joined in and at the same time i got called ‘scabby’. I put up with it and never told anyone for ages until i let it slip at home one night. My parents were very upset and went to the school and the matter was dealt with and i never got called scabby again. My vit was at its worst when i was 13/14 it was all over my arms and legs, my hands were particularly bad. I had a huge white area around my mouth and white circles around my eyes. My eyelids looked like i was wearing blue eyeshadow because the skin was so pale and thin and the veins noticeable. I often received rude comments about not being able to apply my ‘make up’ properly i would get fed uo trying to explain that i wasnt wearing any. Every area of my body was affected-back, neck, torso, face and limbs. At 15 i was invited to take part in a research project where the doctors put eyedrops into my eyes and them examined them for signs of depigmentation although in my case they found nothing unusual. Gradually the white patchs got bigger and bigger and today i,m pleased to report i do not have a single patch on my body. I dont know if it has gone away, i dont think so because my leg hair and eyebrows have the odd stark white hair which is odd because i have almost black hair. I continue to wear factor 60 and stay out the sun as much as i can although i am curious and wonder if my vit has gone and i would be able to go out in the sun without either burning quickly or becoming patchy again. Has this happened to anyone else? On a positive note because i,ve never had a tan and i use sunblock on my face regularly my skin is in good condition and i,m often told that i look much younger than i really am. I know what its like to have people stare and make insensitive, rude remarks. Its easy to say ‘its only skin deep’, ‘you’re lucky its not painful’…yes im grateful for that but it can be painful when people make hurtful remarks etc. I found that a combination of cover up creme and fake tan made me feel so much better. Good luck to all of you out there who have been affected by this condition. I hope one day there will be a long term solution for us.
My daughter Macy is 9 years has been diagnosed with Vitiligo a year ago. It covers her chin and other areas come and go. We need all the advice we can get .
Macy,
I would suggest getting in touch with someone from the National Vitiligo Foundation. Here is their web address: http://www.mynvfi.org/
My Father(an only child)and his Mother had vitiligo. My Mother, one of thirteen siblings, her Father also had Vitiligo. I started developing Vitiligo when I was about 30. It was on my face,hands and everywhere by the time I was 45. My sister would always tell me that the only difference between her and I was I carried,what I called, my ulgy spots on the out side. While hers were inside eating at her.
I have one uncle out of all my Mothers sibling that also has Vitiligo. You would like to think a person to be very shallow, to let this bother them, since it’s not life threatening or anything. But God help us, it’s not that easy. If it wasn’t for my wonderful husband and family saying they never see it when they look at me, I don’t know what I would have done. I tried to cover it up for awhile but it got to be to much. I’m at the point now where both my hands and face are totally white. The rest of my body is spotted. I stay out of the sun because I tan easily and it makes it just that much harder to deal with emotionally.
I worked as a Supervisor for years and dealt with people all day. I have never been able to get past the dread of meeting someone new. I know I’m my own worst enemy, but it doesn’t make it any easier. I’m the only one that seems to notice a person with Vitiligo. I feel their pain and that’s why it’s hard to believe others don’t notice mine.
I’m looking for a good safe bleach. I’ll take all white anyday.
God help the little children! They need whatever research it takes to find a cure for them.
I wish we could share this with the world. Make everyone aware. It breaks my heart that people don’t know the truth. The truth reveals so much and could open their eyes, change the way people are perceived. It’s not fair. :( We will all miss Michael.? I hope he knew how much he was loved, and how thankful we are for everything he did. How there were many people who didn’t judge him by what we heard or read in tabloids. Thank you for posting this article. And I just want to say that I think Lee Thomas is an amazing man to have the strength to go public with this disease and help raise awareness. ?
I had vitilgo for a long time I use cover ups (make up) and just try to go on with my life, I know people can say things and make you feel bad, but I still just go on with my life I recently tryed out for the show She’s Got the Look! I did’nt make it but I will try again….. NEXT SEASON….. Wish me luck……
May Michael Jackson rest in peace now. Really. Everyone should be aware of vitiligo. I really miss Michael Jackson. We all needed to see that one last moon-walk dance move and a couple of old-time favorites. He broke so many barriers. I can’t stop watching the channels that talk about Michael. He was indeed very talented. I have many favorites, but the song that really touches my heart is “Will You Be There”.
As for the disease…
I hope people become more aware of it. Have a walk like they do for Breast Cancer, and raise money to find out more about vitiligo and find possible cures.
May God be with those that have it. May God Bless Michael Jackson’s family and friends.
Rest in peace Michael. God Bless.
Hope he died with Christ as his Savior.
I’m a 22 year old male, started developing vit at around 12 I believe. My first patch was a /perfect/ circle on my upper right chest. My second patch was another perfect circle a little underneath it. My third patch, yet again, was a circle around my nipple. Luckily these were the majority of my patches and it was pretty much unnoticeable until I was about 14 or 15. That’s when it really started coming out.
One “friend” (I have since realized that he was never a good friend) in particular was a bit harsh on me about it, but aside from that, I was fortunate enough to not have gotten ridiculed during school at all.
I had a job at a gas station/convenience store, where I saw hundreds of people a day. I got a lot of stares from little kids, mostly, and a lot of questions just out of curiosity. No one was ever rude about it and I was happy to inform them. So often I got:
“Is that the Michael Jackson disease?” Made me chuckle every time.
I can attest to the fact that this disease is much more than skin deep — as someone said earlier, it attacks your soul and psyche. Total destruction of self confidence and self image, with emotionally scarring effects.
Anyway, to everyone effected — hold your head up high.
As Dr Seuss said:
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”
I got this disease when I was a baby. My family said it came on my legs. It came as a twin across form each other. I am 55 now, and it didn’t spread till I was in my 20′s. Got married, and started to college. I got a breaking out on my face first, and itching. It wouldn’t heal. I went to the dr. for test. It was vitiligo. I have ask several people and read lots of atricles, but I can’t find out anywhere people are like me that break out and itch. MY white spots are like twin. It comes on each elbow, each knee and so on. Most of all it comes in the joint places of my body. Now it has gotten bad. I do cover up with long sleeves, and in the summer is the worst when it so hot. I am miserable. I just don’t do like I used to for so many people are so mean and harsh with there words. It really does hurt.. I used to be so out going, but now I just hide in my own home and am a Prisoner in my body and soul..
Hello, I too have vitiligo on my hands, arms, legs, & feet! It was on my face but after puva treatment it went away! I learned in my life that having this makes me a warrior, what i mean by that is i have to face this and win it over everyday! Its like a thorn in your side and gets very frustating and somedays it beats me. I turned to the Lord many times (in fact everyday)and its funny how he answered my other prayers and not this one! For some reason i am supposed to have this. I know at any time he could take it away but chooses not too! Ive learned to be mostly comfortable with this condition and its wonderful that we are not alone with this. If everyone had it it would be fine, but alot of us have it! You are a warrior and when this world is made right we will all be blessed for this suffering! One last thing i learned with my fight is it doesnt matter what happens too you, what does matter is what you do about it! You are all in my prayers! Rob
Thank you so much for posting this. I was very interested in this after hearing about Michael Jackson suffering from it. As a nurse it really helps me to understand what people with this go through. Poor Michael, no one seemed to believe this was real. He should have spoke out more about this condition. Maybe people would have understood him more had they known.
Thanks for the story. After watching MJ’s skin change, I suspected when MJ started wearing the one glove that he had vitiligo because most of the people I know who have the disease, it started with their hands. This article is good because the people I know who have this disease are miserable and have lost their self-esteem. They desire their old skin tone back but feel helpless. People think they are albinos because there skin is totally colorless. Maybe this article will help many people with the disease.
I can’t help feeling that if Michael Jackson did have vitiligo, why didn’t he tell the world earlier? He waited until 1993! Another issue I have is that in the same interview he said he’d only had plastic surgery twice, and only on his nose, which contradicts what he said in his autobiagraphy and what is apparent in photos.
Also, although photos show that Michael had dark patches on his skin, we can’t tell for sure it’s due to vitiligo – it could be due to any other procedure responsible for his skin changing colour.
I’m not saying I’m sure that he didn’t have vitiligo, but here I’ve just stated why I have doubts. I WANT to believe he does.
Joanna, his dermatologist confirmed he suffered from both lupus and vitiligo, as did Dr. Deepak Chopra. I think the questions and doubts should stop.. it is very,very, obvious. Michael was also a very sensitive person and already very insecure about his looks. I can only imagine what having this disease was like for him. He didn’t want to talk about it probably because he just didn’t want to bring attention to himself like that, it was obvious that he didn’t enjoy attention outside of performing. He didn’t have an obligation to anyone, but himself.
Thk U 4 explain me dat!
I really didn’t know nothing about vitiligo until today. I appreciated very much da way U wrote about it, it’s so clear. Thk u once again. And I’ve to agree dat u hit da nail when u say ” This man seems so uncomfortable in his own skin that he’s become a tragic shadow of his former self”. From this moment on the fact of Michael Jackson’s skins changed color make more sense to me now! Thks all ya 4 posting dat!
So 4 “laura gaughan” and 4 every people who suffer with it, I wanna to say ya that “U’ve got to keep ya head up”!
I want to thanks everyone for sharing their stories,and for the beautiful words. I love Michael Jackson,he was a gorgeous man inside and out. :)
It’s amazing how malicious, misleading, and misinformed the mainstream media can be. ABC News is now airing photos of MJ’s leg like the ones included in the above article. They are calling the discoloration from vitiligo “injection marks” and the spider bite is now a wound from drug use.
Unbelievable.
The only thing I can say about MJ is he was a great entertainer. BUT…
Do you know what a difference he could have made for our future Vitiligo children? He had the power to come forward and help the children he claimed to love so much.Instead he made millions on a glove and media coverage for the wrong reasons.
How dare you Michael!
I,ve written on here before on my own experiences with vitiligo and this time i want to make a comment about Michael Jackson. Yes his job gave him a platform to be a vit spokesperson should he have wished to be one but it seems he didnt. I,m not about to debate the eccentricities or decisions of a person i,ve never met however i,d like to defend each persons choice to deal with their vitiligo in a way that suits them. He was not obligated because of his job to become vitiligos spokesperson. It seems reasonable to me that when dealing with personal (and i hate the word but i,m at a loss to find another so i,ll use it) ‘deformity’ that it is difficult enough working through it, nevermind doing so whilst living in the public eye. Add in the issue of race ‘from black to white’…that is way more than i,ve had to deal with. No doubt there are people who feel Michaels reluctance to stand tall and proud about his vit was a missed opportunity however i disagree. Whether he wanted to or not he raised the profile of vitilgo and brought it to the attention of people who might otherwise never of heard of it. Even in his passing i believe this will continue to be the case and of course the debate about whether or not he had vit will run on and on. I liked his music, it just seems so sad. Hope he is at peace
Laura G.
I completely agree with you. MJ had a right to live with vitiligo anyway that he was comfortable with. You can’t say that you would be comfortable with being a spokesperson either until you have lived under the super microscope that surrounded his life. I don’t blame him for wanting privacy. His life, whether you liked him or not, was definetely tragic and I believe he lived a lot of his life in sadness. I hope he finally is in peace now.
hi im jaky. im almost 13 and ive had vitiligo since i was about 4. i get teased nearly everyday, i have patches all over my body, im nearly fully covered. im seriously considering bleaching my skin like michael did. but i need to talk about it to my mother. hearing all ur stories really helped me. its very hard for me right now, younger people have alot of curiousity. the stares are getting old now, but the recent questions still hurt..
michael nunca te olvidaremos te lo juro
It’s interesting how this skin disease has affected people differently. I too have vitiligo and have since I was 12 years old. (I’m 34 now.) I’m fair-skinned, which I’m certain makes a difference. I also dealt with teasing as a child, but it was my own fear of being considered a freak that really damaged my self-esteem. I became incredibly self-conscious and even the most innocent of questions made me feel as though I was living under a microscope. As hard as it was at times, I am okay. I’ve recently discovered that I made a far bigger deal out of my skin than anyone else ever did. The boys that wanted to date me barely even considered it, but I thought it made me less than.
My point is this, especially for young people dealing with this: it may seem overwhelming now. You may FEEL ugly or outcasted, but feeling that way doesn’t make it so. Vitiligo is not the center of my world now. It doesn’t determine what I can and cannot do. It doesn’t determine whether or not I am beautiful, whether or not I feel good about myself, whether or not I can do something worthwhile in the world. My life is meaningful. I have three beautiful children and a loving husband. I’ve been successful in a business career. I’ve been successful as a stay-at-home mom. I have plenty of friends. So your life can be as normal as anybody else’s. And honestly, I’m grateful for the way vitiligo shaped me, despite the pain it caused.
this solves everything and deletes any misconception about michael purpuosly changing the colour of his skin
thankyou for ur honesty about this and infomative blog
@ sharika.. i know its been 2 years. so you may not read this .. however to anyone else who does.. if you have a sign of having vitiligo.. go to a dermatologist to have the light treatment done and get at it early.. there is a more success rate if you catch it and treat it early. I was 16 when i was able to seek out a dr on my own due to lack of support from my family.. they were ignorant to my feelings..like i should be okay with it..i however, did not follow thru with it consistantly per health ins issues…. Vitiligo do appear in blotches, it attacks joints and healed irritated areas appear white..then it spreads from that locale. I did the same thing MJ did.. i wore make up from 1990 to 2002.. the brown make up got a shade lighter as i got lighter..then in 2002 i had a breakdown. there was too much white to cover. so then i used lighter make up to cover the little dark i had left….I thought about what other people would think. (you cant tell me how to feel if you are not in my shoes) you have to go thru it from birth to my now 34 yrs that this was part of you and changed you. you are constantly reminded that you have it. I dont mind a glance .however to stare is the fucked up part..Now my entire face hands neck chest etc is light..no blocthes that anyone can see.. most think im a diff race.. who knew me before figure i did something medical.. i have not yet dont anything….. im in the process now of pigmentating the rest of the dark areas.. there is no sense to go back.. even if someone told me there was a cure and it will take 3 years.i couldnt go thru the half/half again.. its good to walk down the street and be seen as normal.. isnt that how most of you feel? are?
LOVE U MICHAEL R.I.P
MISS U MUCH
ALL MY LOVE
LOVE YOU MOST OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXXXOXOXOXXOXXOOOOXOXOXOXXOXO
MJ you rock and you have no obligation to be a spokes person for vitiligo. BTW Yvonne or whatever you call yourself. MJ was accused of molesting a child shortly after this happened and so he could not get in contact with the group, but he did try later on according to someone from the group and this was before the Bashir stuff happened and the Bashir stuff happened and then the Bashir stuff happened and he had to stop that again because of the trial and all the came with it. BTW MJ was not obliged to explain his vitiligo at certain points he did so when he felt the most comfortable opening up about it.
I apshivakumar i am suffering from small white patch in near sesna & around pl.tell me dite & medicine may i take some tablet but that is harmful “Levison-150mg” use for adult some blood content changes in profile & weakness in 30 days but some colour is dark pl. sugest
I have had vitiligo for many years. I have so many auto-immune problerms starting as a juvenile diabetic at age 8 and progessing to having hypothyroidism next, at age 16, then got this “V” in college on what had been an almost olive skin tone that rarely burned before.
I guess in retrospect, it helped me to use sunscreen before I did more damage. Yes, I hated the patches but they have enlarged & so much of me has gone nearly white, now you hardly see it. I just have adjusted to having what I term porcelain skin with dark hair. The worst part is now it has also affected my nose hair & eye lashes. I seem allergic to every dye I’ve tried to use.
I started getting acupuncture for other reasons (serious food allergies) & in the last year, I’ve noticed that many of my patches of vitiligo are starting to re-pigment. My acupuncturist says she has seen it a few times before in other patients. I suspect that my over-active immune system is finaly being made more normal.
I am a 23 year old girl, I have has vitiligo since I was a toddler. I too have had severe confidence issues in my life with people calling me names (cow girl, spots, dots, leper, freak, you name it) and treating me like I was less than them just because I had two different colors of skin tone. The people have been so mean in my life it made me drop out of high school. My vitiligo covers over 80% of my body today and I notice new spots often. Hopefully one day I will just be all white and it will take all my pigment to even its self out. I have been using different types of treatments all my life topical, pills, injections, lights, cover ups, fake tans, repigmentation methods and depigmentation methods. I have found that the only thing that is truly working for me is using safe skin lighteners to lighten the tan spots of my skin to match or blend into my white spots. I have been hesitant to use a stronger lightening treatments like Hydroquinone. It seems to leave a harsher white depigmentation than my already white spots. I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible for the fact that if I can stay pale my spots blend in a bit more. It took me about 16 years to start coming out of my shell and I realized what I was meant to do with my life. I am currently in college for my nursing degree but my main goal in life Is to get my PhD in Dermatology and hopefully I will be able to help people have more options dealing with vitiligo. I think if people can see me and what I’ve been through in my life and what I’ve had to overcome than maybe they can too. I want to help people feel better about themselves. I think the biggest help and confidence booster for me in my life dealing with this has been my boyfriend. He loves me for who I am he doesn’t see my spots he see’s me.
Hi Kylie. Thanks for your comment. I am sorry you have been treated so badly. I hope you achieve your goal of becoming a doctor so you can help others in the same situation. Good luck to you!
Thank you so much for your kind words! It really means a lot. Good luck to you as well I really enjoy your blog.
I’m 40 yr old woman who had vitiligo for 12 years. Mine spread rapidly throughout my body, with depigmentation on joints, under eyes, hair, etc. I tried oral and light medications to no real avail. People used to make hurtful comments before, during and after treatment,… and this was tough. Eventually I started to make a natural treatment which has been a blessing to me. You only need to read this review in the link below… you have nothing to lose.
http://www.naturalvitiligotreatmentsystems.com
Begin a new life, you deserve it …Good luck!