Vitiligo is best known as the disease Michael Jackson claims to have changed the color of his skin over the years. I say he claims to have it, because I know what it's like to have Vitiligo and what it's like to lose almost all the pigment in your skin.
I was first diagnosed with Vitiligo when I was around four or five. It started off as little dots of pale skin on my legs and all throughout my childhood for the most part it stayed dormant.
Around ten years ago I started losing pigment at a rapid rate. Growing up I was able to hide it by wearing pants and by wearing long sleeved shirts but I couldn't hide it anymore when I started losing pigment in my face.
I now have lost about 98% of pigment in my skin. Some of the hair on my skin still has a little pigment but most does not.
I have some streaks of white hair in my head but for the most part I look normal now.
I remember the days where I'd walk into a room and all eyes on me. And the questions I'd get - ugh!
Even the most pale people have enough pigment to shield them from the dangerous UVA/UVB rays. Where they tan and then burn. I just straight out burn because there is almost no pigment left in my skin. I can't go outside especially during high UV days without major sunblock and a hat. The reason for the hat is not only to shield me my face from the rays but also my scalp. You see, my scalp burns as well - no pigment there either. I go out without a hat on during those days and I'll be in pain for a week or more because of a scalp burn!
So, I shouldn't have been surprised to find out that my eyelashes are now losing pigment like the rest of my body. I expect that one day I won't have any pigment left in my skin or hair but I guess I didn't expect it to happen so soon.
So instead of wallowing in self pity I'm going to focus on the opportunities that this brings.
1. I can become a female Michael Jackson impersonator.
2. I can go blonde without fears of having tell tale roots!
3. I can invest in colored mascaras and have them show up on my lashes!
4. I can color my hair funky colors without having to bleach it!
5. I can dye my hair green, apply fake bake on my skin and dress like an Oompa Loompa.
6. Or I can dye my skin blue, get off WW and become Violet.
7. I can start a movement where people die their hair, lashes and eyebrows white!
I can't think of three more...think! think! think!