On June 25 every year, World Vitiligo Day is observed to draw attention towards the skin condition, Vitiligo, in which white patches develop all over the body caused by the loss of Melanin (the skin pigment). In vitiligo, the melanocytes which are the cells that develop the pigments get destroyed due to an autoimmune condition.
The disease is more apparent in people with darker skin tone or those living in African and Asian countries. The social impact of the disease is destructive as people living with the disease are often not accepted.
So this day is marked to draw attention and create awareness to lessen the stigma around the disease.
World Vitiligo Day Theme
This year the theme for World Vitiligo Day is “Mental and Medical Journey of Living with Vitiligo- The Journey Starts with ME!” The aim of the theme is to highlight the psychological and emotional well being of people who are going through this skin condition. People with this condition experience mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues.
World Vitiligo Day Significance
This condition affects 100 million people across the world and it is not just an illness that has its roots in the skin. People with the skin ailment suffer from social and psychological illnesses.
This day aims to lessen some of the stigmas by clearing out the misinformation about the condition and helping to restore dignity in the lives of people.
To disseminate the information there are events and campaigns held and in which the ones suffering from vitiligo can come together and reach out to others with the same condition.
