Leading the way with courage and confidence, one of Mzanzi’s favourite actresses, Leleti Khumalo and US models Winnie Harlow and Amy Deanna are helping to raise awareness about vitiligo.
What causes vitiligo?
Worldwide, about 95 million people have the dappled skin tones caused by vitiligo, though the number is likely much higher. The autoimmune disease causes the loss of skin colour in patches anywhere on the body. This happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the melanocytes, which give the skin its colour.
Cape Town dermatologist, Dr Nomphelo Gantsho, says that in some people the trigger for vitiligo may be sunburn, stress or exposure to industrial chemicals. However, she adds that “anyone can get vitiligo. It is also possible that if you have one autoimmune disease or a family history of autoimmune disease, it may make you more susceptible to vitiligo. Still, it occurs in individuals of all skin colours, and it affects men and women fairly equally.”
How to care for your skin if you have vitiligo
If you have vitiligo, caring for your skin is key. “Melanin protects us from sunburn and patches with vitiligo burn quickly because they are not naturally protected,” explains Dr Gantsho. “Protect your skin from sunburn and artificial sources of UV light, because sunburn can lead to skin cancers in the long term,” she says. “Always wear clothing that shields your skin from the sun, choose shaded outdoor areas and do not use sunbeds or tanning salons,” she adds. “Trauma to the skin – such as scrapes, cuts or burns – can cause new vitiligo patches to develop,” she adds.
Leleti Khumalo raising awareness around vitiligo
Khumalo, who has openly spoken about her condition, started developing vitiligo at the age of 19 but as a young woman growing up in KwaZulu-Natal, she didn’t know what it was. “It was pure ignorance on my part,” she says. “In fact, I didn’t even know what it was until I became pregnant.”
Until recently, Khumalo used to cover up her white patches with makeup. “My plan is to educate people about vitiligo,” she says. “It’s deeper than what people see as it affects every aspect of your life – although it’s not painful, it is incurable. My doctor warned me it’s going to be worse after giving birth, but at that point it didn’t bother me as I was too excited about the babies,” says the mom of twins.
For more information, visit the Vitilage Association of SA website.
Also read: 5 ways vitamin C could benefit your skin
IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com