World Vitiligo Day

Since inception in 2011, the World Vitiligo Day has been observed annually on the 25^th of June.

Born from the determination of non-profit organizations VR Foundation (USA) and VITSAF (Nigeria), and their supporters across the world, the event was created in order to bring this ‘forgotten’ disease into the public eye and to shine a light on challenges faced by those suffering from Vitiligo.

The event has been growing bigger and bolder each year. And with it, recognition of Vitiligo grows, particularly since Winnie Harlow, supermodel and vitiligan, walked Victoria’s Secret Fashion show – one of the hottest fashion tickets on the planet – last fall.

What’s more, six U.S. State governors and numerous city mayors have now declared June ‘Vitiligo Awareness Month.’

Why World Vitiligo Day is Important

• More than 100 million people around the world suffer from Vitiligo. The campaign helps disseminate important information that can help ease the pain of those living with Vitiligo.
• Through events such as runs and walks, the campaign brings together Vitiligo sufferers along with their friends and family to show demand for specialized treatments. The day is also marked by educational seminars designed to share the latest scientific and medical research.
• Through outreach to potential supporters, the campaign raises funds for local support groups, medical centres and academic researchers.

What and Where

This year, the international headquarters are set in beautiful Hanoi, Vietnam. The Honorary Chairman of the World Vitiligo Day 2019 is Prof. Nguyen Van Thuong, MD. The international theme of this year is “The Quality of Life of a Vitiligo Patient.” A panel of renowned speakers will cover a whole range of topics in Vitiligo: from novel herbal treatments by Prof. Torello Lotti to Viruses and Superantigens by Prof. Michael Tirant, and many others.

Support for the event is huge and well over 500 thousand people from across the world have now signed a petition that asks the UN Secretary General to officially designate June 25th as World Vitiligo Day. However, there is still much work to be done. Campaign organizers aim to persuade major healthcare providers and Big Pharma to give Vitiligo the attention it deserves and develop effective treatments for this disease.

Vitiligo – The Latest Research

The founder of the Psoriasis Eczema Clinic, Professor Michael Tirant, will be in Vietnam on World Vitiligo Day to present some of his latest research in Vitiligo.

Professor Tirant will be presenting his research on viruses, superantigens and vitiligo as well as discussing the importance of diet, lifestyle and nutrition in vitiligo management.   Prof. Tirant, in conjunction with the Dr Michaels Skin Clinic in Vietnam, will also be launching the Vitilinex product range for Vitiligo prone skin.