Vitiligo & Skin Cancer

The current issue of Family Circle Magazine June 2012 has an article about skin cancer &
women who have survived it. In reading the article, it got me thinking about my Vitiligo and how we must use sunscreen. So I did some research and thought I would share what I have learned. Of course we all know we have to wear sunscreen, regardless of our skin color. Our vit makes us more susceptible to sunburns and other related conditions & diseases.
I'll continue to wear my sunscreen to prevent sunburns and hopefully prevent skin cancer in the future

According to the AVRF ( American Vitiligo Research Foundation ) People with vitiligo do not suffer from increased risk of skin cancer.
It was believed for a long that that skin color helped with protection from the sun's rays.But this isn't true. The SPF is only between 2-3 for the brown/black melanin and the red pheomelanin doesn't offer much protection at all. Even wit having vit patches, where the pigment is nearly gone completely,
not everyone with Vit will get a sunburn. There are two studies which have shown that having vit doesn't necessarily coincide with a greater sun sensitivity.

" Malignant Melanoma (MM) is another skin cancer which can be very dangerous if not recognised early.

People with very fair skin (those who never tan or only very slightly) do have a higher risk to develop melanoma compared to dark skinpeople at any body site regardless of sun exposure or not. These tumours can develop in existing moles but they can also arise totally new as pigmented as well as non-pigmented tumours. Early recognition and excision are important for the outcome.

The observation that melanoma is more frequent in patients with vitiligo originates from a study which included 623 Caucasian patients with melanoma of the Oncology Clinic at the Department of Dermatology at the University of Hamburg/Germany (Schallreuter KU et al, Dermatologica (1991)).

In this study 11/623 patients with melanoma had a true vitiligo long before their melanoma was diagnosed. Considering that 1 in 200 has vitiligo and 1 in 12,000 develops melanoma, these results suggested a significantly higher risk to develop melanoma for patients with vitiligo and fair skin (Schallreuter KU et al, Dermatologica (1991)).

In our Institute for Pigmentary Disorders we have indeed found in 2 Caucasian patients with vitiligo melanoma in a patient group of 1800 Caucasian patients with vitiligo supporting the above findings (Schallreuter KU, unpublished results).

Based on the above results the take home message and recommendation is that patients who have vitiligo should undergo an annual total body examination at their Dermatologists in order to recognise a possible melanoma as early as possible."

On a side note, I do wish the magazine had included information about Vit & skin cancer. It would of been very useful & informative & helpful to the vit community.

Awareness Video

I am very accepting of my vitiligo. However I also realize not everyone
has the support which I have. There is a need for a World Vitiligo Day and
to raise awareness and attention to this disease and to help educate everyone
about it. This is a powerful video to help with the awareness.

Also please sign here to help us get a World Vitiligo Day
and bring attention worldwide to this disease.

MMA Fighter Scott Jorgenson

My husband was playing the new UFC 3 Undefeated game on XBOX360 when we saw one of the fighters, Scott Jorgenson in the game. It was obvious immediately that he has Vitiligo. I thought this was awesome! That both UFC & THQ portrayed this fighter as he is in reality. You can check him out here and see the vit.I think I may have a new favorite fighter. Definitely someone to follow. I know it is extra special and a boost when we as a community see a celebirty or athlete with vit.

I also wanted to share that Scott Jorgenson is reportedly going to do a video with Krizz Kaliko who also has
vitiligo. You can read more about this here. 

In The Press With Vitligo

A very interesting article about Vitiligo and a member of the press Lee Thomas
having Vitiligo. Worth the read for sure.Also talks about Michael Jackson
and his having Vitiligo

Link

First Painting In Series

Okay Here is the painting. I left it faceless to show
that it can affect anyone. I didn't want to make it a man or woman in the painting.
This one is suppose to be Caucasian but I hope to do more paintings with each one
featuring a different race on the skin.
I know its rough but then again we all know Vit isn't perfect at all so I think
it kinda fits. What do you all think?

Painting Series

I'm starting a series of abstract paintings featuring Vitlilgo.
While not wonderful, I think the paintings will be good.
Each painting will feature a different skin tone/color and
Vitiligo on the skin. Being that it takes different patterns and
affects all races, I am doing this to showcase how it affects everyone.

The first painting is drying now. Once it is all dry, I'll get a good photo
of it & post it on here. 

Vikings NFL Coach About His Vitiligo

Grat article about Vikings Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar
and his vilitigo. Fox Sports did the article.
You can read it here.