Living with vitiligo and the precious lesson it has taught me

When we meet Tabitha Wanjiru at her shop on Gusii Lane in Nakuru city, her bright smile greets us.

Wanjiru begins by narrating how twelve years ago, she noticed a white patch on her chest. At the time, she didn't think much of it. It wasn’t painful. But as it began to spread to her neck, concern crept in.

“Initially, I was told I was Vitamin C deficient and began taking supplements, but the spots continued to spread. Despite trying various medical treatments, the condition worsened and with it, my confidence,” she recalls.

Wanjiru says her family too struggled to understand what was happening since no one in the family had ever experienced the condition. Explaining it to her children was difficult.

“I would spend an average of Sh. 7,000 every time I visited a hospital. After consulting several dermatologists, I was eventually diagnosed with vitiligo,” she narrates.

For a while, Wanjiru held onto hope that it could be cured until one dermatologist gently clarified that vitiligo has no cure. Instead, he advised her to stick to the skincare routine she had been following, including the use of sunscreen.

Since the recommended sunscreens were costly, she joined a support group that helped her access them at a lower cost. However, due to high demand, there were times she couldn't get her supply.

“Over time, I realized that nothing was going to change. I had to come to terms with the fact that vitiligo has no cure. I have to love myself and my skin the way it is,” Wanjiru says smiling.

This is the lesson she’s now passing on to her daughters; to love themselves just as they are.

“People often fear rejection, especially when they feel different or unfamiliar. I hope people can treat those with vitiligo as normal individuals. I don’t let other people’s comments affect me,” she adds.

Wanjiru advocates for people loving themselves first, because when they do, the world has no choice but to follow.

Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks melanocytes—the cells responsible for producing melanin. This results in white patches on the skin and can also cause premature whitening of hair.

These visible changes often lead to emotional distress, including anxiety and depression.

For Wanjiru, she now emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about vitiligo, noting that it can affect anyone.

“By understanding the condition, people will be better equipped to support those living with it and avoid spreading misinformation about its causes,” she notes.

Such awareness, she says, plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive and compassionate environment.

“It helps those with vitiligo feel accepted, and loved especially since many struggle with self-esteem due to the visible nature of the condition,” Wanjiru concludes.