The Battle of Vitiligo

The Battle of Vitiligo

By Khanyisa Manganyi

Vitiligo is one of those conditions that sparks more myths than facts, and sadly, those myths can be just as damaging as the condition itself. It’s a skin disorder that causes patches of skin to lose their pigment, creating lighter areas on the body. This happens because the cells that produce melanin — the pigment that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color — are either destroyed or stop working. The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but research points to it being an autoimmune condition, where the body mistakenly attacks its own pigment-producing cells. It’s not contagious, it’s not the result of poor hygiene, and it’s definitely not a curse.

Yet, for many people living with vitiligo, the real struggle isn’t just the condition, but the stares, whispers, and wild theories. I once overheard a traditional healer talking to an elder, saying the reason her grandson’s skin looked that way was because he stole something and someone cursed him — apparently, this was a method used for people with sticky fingers and it couldn’t be reversed. I was stunned. Until the healer was next in line to be helped and walked away, and the boy turned to his grandmother and said, “Koko, I thought my skin problem started when I was an infant.” She looked at him, patted his hand and said, “It’s true, don’t worry, Wa hlanya luya (She’s crazy).” I just chuckled silently.

The truth is, vitiligo can appear at any age — though it’s rare in infants, it’s not impossible. For some, the patches start small and spread over time. For others, they remain limited to certain areas. It doesn’t discriminate; it affects people of all races and both genders equally. While there’s no cure, treatments exist that can help slow its progression or restore some pigment, such as light therapy, topical creams, or, in some cases, surgery. But often, the biggest treatment needed is acceptance — both from the person who has it and from the people around them.

What makes the battle with vitiligo so tough isn’t just living with the condition, but living in a society that still doesn’t understand it. Every patch of skin tells a story, but those stories are often drowned out by harmful old tales. Education is the key to breaking these myths. When people understand that vitiligo is a medical condition — not punishment, not witchcraft, not theft gone wrong — we create a safer, kinder space for those living with it.

The real curse isn’t the skin losing color — it’s the ignorance that colors people’s minds. And that’s a curse we can absolutely reverse.

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