PHOTOS - The Brave Celebs Living With The Rare Skin Condition Called Vitiligo

This post aims to raise awareness for the skin condition that affects approximately 100 million people globally- about 1% of the population regardless of race, and it is called vitiligo. What this condition does is that those who suffer from it lose pigment in their skin over time, slowly or rapidly and randomly across the body, around the eyes, lips, hands etc.

Tara and Chantelle

Recently on TV a couple walked into a restaurant and ordered for food, the waitress who served them had vitiligo on her hands and the lady saw it first and drew her husband's attention to it so they both decided to leave the restaurant without eating because they claimed her hands were unsightly and disgusting. The owner of the restaurant had to sack the waitress because he could not continue to pay the wages of one who could not serve because of her condition, which she didn't bring upon herself!

Can you imagine the psychological consequence this will have on the victim? I can assure you that it will be horrendous!
This condition is not curable but can be treated with steroid creams, Light therapy, excimer laser, Calcineurin inhibitors which can put back some pigmentation in some patients but not all. Many people use concealers like Dermablend, Mary Kay, Mac and Black up to cover the affected patches but these are temporary measures.

Cheri and Phillip Lindsay

It is a good thing that we now have spokespersons that are raising enlightenment about this condition and maybe more money will be released for research in the near future and perhaps it will also help minimise the embarrassment that sufferers feel. Notable celebs who have suffered from this condition are; Michael Jackson, cheri and Phillip Lindsay and Model Chantelle Brown-Young who has even gone ahead to participate in America's Next Top Model irrespective. The 19 year old Chantelle said something I will never forget " I have something that is very profound about the way I look. A lot of people have a story and a background but mine is painted on my body". That is true confidence and acceptance.

Recently, I went to Balogun market to shop here in Lagos and I saw a beautiful black woman whose name I later learnt was Modina. She had vitiligo on her face and she was so beautiful but looked forlorn. So I approached her and after apologising for my impunity(if you like) told her that they were concealer powders she could use to conceal the patches on her face if she felt the need to cover up and that I could list them out right away. Her face lit up and she told me that she and her husband have been at a loss of what to do, she said there was no need to write it out as we were in the market we should go buy them immediately! I will never forget the appreciative smile on her face as we exchanged numbers and names afterwards, with her clutching her powders so tightly to her bosom.

Vitiligo is a condition and not infectious! Be a friend to a sufferer today and spread the word. Do you know anyone with this condition, man or woman, it does not discriminate? Let us talk. Use the comment button below. Thank you for stopping by. Click to see one more photo of the gorgeous model Chantelle and a face before and after using concealer ...

Chantelle Brown-Young

Before and after using concealer

Photos from Google