World Vitiligo Day 2014

I did a small photo collage to show off some of my spots for World Vitiligo Day 2014. 

Didn't realize until I saw the photo of my face that is progressed to my lips. Oh well.My spots

are more white than the show in the photos. My graphics program changed the color

slightly on them. 

 I do have it elsewhere but we won't get into those places lol

As always rock the spots!

Folic Acid & B12

There was a post today in Vitiligo Pride Facebook group, (which if you are on Facebook, & comfortable discussing your Vit, I highly suggest joining.) by a member concerning Folic Acid. She had never been told by her doctor that she may need it. I thought I would do some reading & research about it as I didn't know either. It seems that the combination of Folic Acid & B12 can have benefits for those of us with Vitiligo.

You can read more at these sites.

Healing Vitligo

Vitiligo Support

I would also suggest this link to familarize yourself

with which herbs to avoid that can do more damage

than good since we do have an autoimmune.

Research Project

I'm starting a research project. I want to know how many of us have Vitiligo & another autouimmune condition. It doesn't matter which came first, if you have documented diagonsis of both, let me hear from you. I want to see what the numbers are. With all of the research I have done, there defintely seems to be a pattern.

So come on, let me here from you.

You can read my previous post about autoimmune here

Next Top Model

So this was posted to my Facebook by a family member. I wanted to verify it before I posted about it here - just in case it wasn't true - we all know how Facebook is. But yep sure enough is competing.. I think this is so wonderful - to be competing to be a model ( which is tough enough we know ) and to be doing it while not hiding her vitiligo - that is so great. What a great message to send - that you can do this & be two colors - or have what others might consider imperfections. It really is great to see.

You can vote for her here. I haven't watched the show before but will be keeping tabs on her.

Vitiligo Video On Upworthy

There is a great video featured on Upworthy about a woman taking off her makeup
& showing her Vitiligo on her face, neck & hands. It has a very positive message.

Check it out here.

Keep Calm

Saw this this morning & wanted to share here. 

Way We See Blackness Article

Now I admit I am white. But most of my childhood was spent in South Carolina, where race is definitely a big thing in the culture there. And I have Vitligo. I thought this would be interesting to share. Vitligo as we know makes us all lighter in color. This is defintely most noticeable on dark skinned people. Take a look..leave feedback if you want - I always welcome it, I came across the article on Upworthy

Article Link

The Autoimmune Side

In addition to our loss of color with having Vitiligo, we do need to consider that it is in fact an Autoimmune condition. This means there can be a whole range of issues with our bodies besides just the loss of color. Of course, the loss of color is the most noticeable with our condition and gets the most attention.

I've been doing some reading this morning about Autoimmune to learn more & familiarize myself
with this side. I have fatigue a lot - doesn't seem to end no matter how much sleep I get either and i also have MAJOR teeth issues. Both seem to be connected to autoimmune conditions and very common with them. Hmmm gets me thinking for sure. My teeth were NOT this bad before I
developed the Vit and have deteriorated very rapidly in the last few years since I've had it.

Here are some websites to check out for more information.

Autoimmune fact sheet

Fatigue & Autoimmune

It's also common to have more than one Autoimmune condition. Not sure about that with me but
I definitely hit on the teeth & fatigue issues for sure. What gets me is that, neither of the doctors I saw about my Vit, ever talked to me about problems with Autoimmune I might encounter. Is this aspect of Vit overlooked? It IS AN AUTOIMMUNE so why not bring it up to us? We do need to know what might happen & how to address or combat it. I'm taking vitamins & B12 for energy but it doesn't seem to be helping me at all. Doctors definitely should inform those of us with it. We need to treat the issues in addition to the color loss. I can deal with the color loss - I've talked on here before about my feelings of having vit. But the issues i am getting from having an autoimmune are really starting to affect my life - and I need more information. I guess its good we have this thing called the internet so that I can educate myself on it.

On that line of  thinking, I looked to see if Autoimmune plays with hearing loss. I've been part deaf most of my life & for no reason - that I've been given anyways. I found this article. Hmmm another makes me think.

Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease 

American hearing

Fact sheet

Vestibular