Vitiligo is fully reversible

Last Updated on 7th October 2022 by Caroline Haye

Damage to pigment cells is not permanent

How would it make you feel to know that vitiligo is fully reversible? Thrilled, indifferent or disappointed? The condition is something none of us asks for and most of us would rather live without. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. I was surprised the other day to read about Bashir Aziz, from London. He has so successfully come to terms with his vitiligo that he is actually disappointed to discover that he is spontaneously re-pigmenting! His attitude is startling. But it shows that (whilst we do not have any choice as to whether or not we develop a condition like vitiligo) we do have a choice as to how we respond to it.

​Nevertheless, the struggle to overcome the emotional response to losing our skin colour can prove too much for many of us. Often in spite of our best efforts. Personally, I never came to terms with my mine (unless feeling resigned to something counts as coming to terms with it). So I was ecstatic and grateful beyond my wildest dreams when I re-pigmented. And I am utterly delighted whenever I hear of others experiencing the same thing. Because I know what a life-changing experience that is.

Vitiligo can be especially hard on parents

I know how deeply disturbing and depressing the loss of one’s natural skin colour can be. So my heart goes out to everyone affected by this experience. I especially feel for parents whose children may develop the disorder.

I often receive emails from mothers and fathers who worry that their children will inherit vitiligo from them. Or, if their child already has the condition, they worry that it will cause psychological or social difficulties for them. Their concerns that their children will be miserable as a result is often heartbreaking. (See How to make your child confident with vitiligo for some excellent tips from Natalie Ambersley.) As is their sense of frustration and helplessness at the lack of a cure.

However, I truly believe that there have never been as many reasons to be optimistic about the future of vitiligo sufferers as there are today. This skin condition has been minimised and largely overlooked by the medical and scientific community for generations. But I am glad to say that this state of affairs is finally changing.

Latest vitiligo research video

I recently came across an exciting article by Erika Page on a website called Living Dappled.   Erika has vitiligo and is clearly very committed to helping others with the condition by providing  encouragement and information, particularly aimed at supporting female sufferers. As part of this project she has embarked on a series of video interviews with vitiligo experts. In these she asks her guest to share 5 points of interest. The first of these interviews was with Dr John Harris, Director of the University of Massachusetts Vitiligo Clinic and Research Center.  The live video interview gives a fascinating and immensely encouraging insight into the vitiligo research going on there. You can read Erika’s summary of Dr Harris’ five points – and view the whole video – on this page.

Dr Harris

Having watched the interview with Dr Harris, I felt encouraged on a number of levels. For a start, it is unusual to hear a scientist speak about a complex field of research in such clear and simple language. It is obvious that his commitment to finding effective treatments for vitiligo is his passion, not just a job. And I found it refreshing that he is evidently so in tune with the patient’s point of view. A fact which I suppose is due to his being a clinical dermatologist as well as a research scientist. So he gets to see first hand how vitiligo affects people on a human level.

Just knowing that serious vitiligo research is actually going on and has identified the key pathway involved in the development of vitiligo (a combination of autoimmunity and abnormal melanocytes) is encouraging. And realising that research is progressing to a stage where clinical trials using drugs that will “switch off” the autoimmune pathway that attacks melanocytes – are well underway is reassuring. Add to that the fact that a number of pharmaceutical companies are finally showing an interest in funding vitiligo research and you realise that these are significant strides in the direction of producing a long-awaited cure.

“Vitiligo is fully reversible”

​But, for me, the most exciting moment in the whole interview was one particular categorical statement. Dr Harris stated that, unlike certain other autoimmune conditions, the damage to pigment cells in vitiligo is fully reversible. The information itself was not the cause of my excitement. After all, my own re-pigmentation after 50 years clearly demonstrates that my pigment cells were able to recover. What really made me sit up and rewind the video a couple of times was hearing someone with his professional credibility confirm it publicly.

For generations, too many doctors the world over have repeated a mantra of doom and gloom. They have told countless thousands of patients that their pigment cells are dead. And they have maintained that white patches never recover and no treatments are really worth trying. Well, now let’s hope these doctors will start to be a little more open-minded and constructive. And, if some of them are slow to bring their attitude into line with current developments, perhaps patients themselves will at least be in a stronger position to educate them on the subject. 😉