There have been many comments asking about UVB treatment for vitiligo, so I will tell you about my experience with it.
One summer, years ago, I did a personal experiment to see if the sun could repigment my vitiligo. Each day I sat in the sun for 15-30 min and every day brought new dark freckling. It was very exciting to realize that my Read more
We all anxiously await the cure for vitiligo, but in the meantime let’s be aware of the full ramifications of the products we use to deal with vitiligo; after all, our skin may be riddled with white patches, but at least we are healthy.
Tonight I came across a very interesting article about a product sold online which is used to whiten the skin so the vitiligo white patches are no longer obvious. Sounds like a promising alternative, but it comes with potentially deadly side-effects. And while it is true that almost all medicines come with an absurdly long list of side-effects, most times the risk out-weighs the benefit of saving your life.
Living with vitiligo is very difficult emotionally, but I don’t think we should risk our lives to feel ‘normal’…there is just too much to live for.
Read this story and tell me if you would use this product despite the side-effects.
UAE women desperate to be fairer using deadly vitiligo injection
An increasing number of women in the UAE are turning to drugs used to treat vitiligo patients, to whiten their complexion and get fairer skin.
Health experts have warned that the misuse of such drugs can cause of serious diseases like cancer.
These girls are so desperate to become ‘white’ that they go to the extent of taking “the eldoquin injections used to treat vitiligo”, according to one doctor who receives several requests to provide the treatment.
Vitiligo is a chronic disorder that causes depigmentation of patches of skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function.
Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Dr Ghada Abu Elhosn, a dermatologist at Al Buhaira Medical Center in Sharjah said that these injections are being sold illegally in the private sector in the country.
“Doctors purchase these injections from other countries such as the US. They are very expensive. One dose of it can cost around Dh5,000. And in order for a normal girl to get the desired result, she has to take a number of injections. However, most girls who want to change their skin colour do not care about the cost. They are ready to pay any amount to get the desired results.”
Dr Ghada added that eldoquin injections kills the melanin cells in the skin, thus, it transforms the skin color to white.
“These injection are mainly used to treat vitiligo patients who get the disease and whose skin transforms by 75 per cent to white color. However, if the white in skin was less than 75 per cent, then we don’t give the patients these injections, and instead of it, we try to treat the affected areas. In most of the cases, they patients get treated.”
She pointed out that she receives many girls who come seeking to get this injection. “However, we do not give it to them because it can cause serious diseases such as cancer, liver problems, lack of immunity and many more. It is not worth it.”
According to another dermatologist from Al Tawam Hospital, these injections are not available in the private sector.
“Government hospitals mainly have such injections. Even here, we do not give it easily to anybody who wants it. I know that the girls who want such injections must sign on an overtaking and they take the responsibilities for any future illness or health problem which may be caused by taking it. We never give it to a normal and healthy person. We only give it to vitiligo patients.”
Emirates 24|7 spoke to a number of women who were desperately seeking the injection.
Aisha, a 35-year-old national mother of two said that she has been trying to get this injection for many years.
“I am not fair. My husband is fairer than me. I tried many whitening creams and tonics, but the results are not satisfying. Once I stop using them, I go back to my natural color. This is annoying as everybody see my husband more handsome and with better skin color.”
She added that she tried to get this injection from many private hospitals, but failed to get it.
“They refuse to give it to me. The doctors say it is not good to be given to a normal person. For me, it doesn’t make a difference as the risks are not 100 per cent. They say that these problems may happen. I have two kids, and I am not planning to have more children.”
She added that she is willing to pay high costs to get the injection, even if it costs Dh5000 per injection.
“My husband also encouraged me to get the injection. He says he wants to see me more beautiful.”http://www.emirates247.com/news/uae-women-desperate-to-be-fairer-using-deadly-vitiligo-injection-2011-01-12-1.341191
Do you know how truly important proper breathing is to your overall well-being and that it has the potential to heal your body? Read more
It’s day 9 of the new year and over the past week I have been bombarded with that age old question, “what’s your new year’s resolution?”, and I have been inundated, online, with unsolicited advice on how to fulfill some of the more common resolutions. So once again, I got out my notebook (somehow this old-fashioned method just seems more official.) to make the list. As I flipped the pages to find a blank sheet, I came across my list for 2010 and glanced through them. Ugh, about three-quarters of the items were not accomplished, and worse, they were at the forefront of what I wanted to get done this year.
“The definition of insanity: doing the same things over and over but expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
This time of year can be conducive to a couple of things, 1) micro-examining your life and 2) feeling depressed about certain aspects of your life. Every year it’s the same cycle: of making resolutions, breaking them, chastising yourself for not following through, forgetting about them, and then bringing them up again at the year end. Einstein may have been on to something; it is insane.
After reading my list for 2010 I was a bit perplexed as to how I was going to achieve my goals, but I was excited when I finally came across an idea that will break the cycle: choosing 3 words that will be my guiding pillars for the year.
I am a techie nerd and a social media addict, so I am constantly exposed to ideas from people who are leaders in their industry. One of my favorites is Chris Brogan. His words have inspired much of what I do to enhance our site, and yesterday his post titled, “My 3 Words for 2011”, opened my eyes to a viable way to actually make the changes I want to see in my life.
As you read Chris’s post, I want you to think about the positive changes that you can make in how you deal with living with vitiligo.
Every year, I come up with three words that will be my guiding pillars for what I will focus on in the coming year. Instead of resolutions, which don’t usually help me very much, I work hard on using these words as a lighthouse for my actions and efforts. Here are my 3 words for 2011:
Reinvest – I will reinvest in my efforts in all areas of life that matter to me. I won’t phone it in. I have some fitness goals. I can’t keep playing at it. I have some financial goals that will be met. I have community goals that require me to reinvest in my projects and not take on new things.
Package – I just wrote about packaging the other day. Essentially, I’m going to get my own marketing house in order. I’m going to make sure things make sense, make sure they are easy to understand, and make sure that the right people know about them. Packaging will have other meanings, too, but this one is important to me in 2011.
Flow – In the last few months of 2010, I came to realize that I’m still doing too much. I went into redrawing mode yet again. One thing I have to do much better in 2011 is manage flow: that state of working on the most important stuff and eliminating distractions. I’ve cut a lot out of my original plans for 2011. I’ll surely cut a little more. The end result? Things will come out much better. I’ll have less stress. Things will flow nicely.
The three words idea is built so that you can have something to reflect upon. As you know, goals should be SMART ( Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely). The way you use the two together is that you think up goals that will match up to your words. For instance, one goal of mine in 2011 that ties to “reinvest” is to lose 50 pounds over 10 months. 5 pounds a month is specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.
There you go.
What are your three words for 2011? How will you guide your actions?
My 3 words are: action, focus, simplify
http://www.chrisbrogan.com/my-3-words-for-2011/
Happy holidays! Wishing you a weekend full of memorable moments and worry-free hours. Many hugs to you 
I started this site in 2004 as a means of reaching out to everyone living with vitiligo. It’s given me the opportunity to offer my support and to share my, let’s say, “adventures” with vitiligo.
Read more about Nathalie here...
