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Presenting the amazing variegated woman!


That would be me. I wouldn't normally post something like this but I felt the time had come. I am entering freak zone and little girls (and they've all been girls so far), come up to me asking me what is wrong with my skin. My answer is that my skin isn't working right and it is losing its colour. I have vitiligo - yes, the thing that Michael Jackson had. So even though I like being in the top 1-2% of the population, this isn't at all what I had in mind.

As far as "the doctors" can tell it's an autoimmune disease where my immune cells may be attacking my pigment cells, and the pigment cells are losing. For a dark-skinned person, the effect is striking. There is no cure and you may or may not respond to the existing treatments. (Lucas, my 7-year old, tells me that having another baby would help. I'm not buying it though I might be inclined to try ginko balboa.)

It seems almost obscene, if not in poor-taste to make a fuss about something that's not life-threatening. Well, the damage this disease wreaks is on the psyche, even for the most well-adjusted of us.

I've had vitiligo for a number of years, but it has exploded in the last year. Small spots have merged and I now have large patches on typical eczema areas (hands, wrists, elbows, knees). I've been lucky - only limited patches on my face..you know how vain we women are. I saw this poem, Picture of Perfection by Brian K. Blackden, and I wanted to share.

My brother is of the firm belief that I got this because I moved away from home. He may be right, since I've now developed a reaction to some types of pineapple - that tropical stalwart. Rather embarrassing really. That alone makes me want to conceal both my origins and my allergies from friends and family, simply so I can avoid the inevitable ridicule and pecong I am likely to receive. (At least from my Trini friends - Americans seem have some sensitivity to offending people). Pecong is Trinbagonian slang for witty, humourous, biting teasing.

In the meantime, I am just waiting for the swimming pool management to ask me to bring in a doctor's note saying that I am not contagious.

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Comments

Savi said…
Hi Sally,

I'm really sorry to hear you have this condition. I also really admire you for writing so honestly about it. I hope the gingko biloba works for you. Can you also camouflage it with fake tan?

Take care,
Savi
5 August 2009 at 10:58
Austin Trini said…
Hey Savi. Yes, you can camouflage and there are a number of products that are specially formulated for all-over cover. I think I would seriously have to consider that if I was going back into the workforce. I try not to focus on it too much, since apparently stress makes it worse. And in the grand scheme of things, I could have something worse.
5 August 2009 at 13:41
Austin Trini said…
One other thing, ginko balboa is one possible alternative treatment, but in the very limited evidence, is shown to be most effective together with other main-stream treatments. For anyone with vitiligo, wikipedia has a pretty exhaustive discussion of it.
5 August 2009 at 13:44
Greta said…
I came across this recent article about the piperine nutrient from black pepper being used in treating vitiligo, at http://www.newbeauty.com/dailybeauty/entry.aspx?id=1782

Not sure if you already read about it, or if your doctor has any opinion about it.

Best,
Greta
5 August 2009 at 19:33
G said…
You have beautifully shaped hands!!
6 August 2009 at 17:03
Austin Trini said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
7 August 2009 at 08:15
Austin Trini said…
Greta, thanks for telling me about the pepper link. I didn't know before, but it does look like more studies are going on in this area (below), I will follow up with my doctor. Thanks again!


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080413172937.htm
7 August 2009 at 08:18
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