Rosa Maria, vitiligo patient: “They no longer consider us lepers of the 21st century” – Good news
Every June 25 world day Vitiligo In order to raise public awareness about this disease what causes loss of skin color with the advent White spots and reasons disorders to those who suffer from it.
In Spain “Almost 1.5% of the population suffers from vitiligo,” he says in ‘Midday COPE’ He the president ASPAVIT, Luis Ponce de Leon.
What is vitiligo?
Jose Luis Lopez EstebaransHead of the Dermatology Service of the Alcorcón Foundation Hospital, explains to us what a vitilologist is and what its consequences are.
Vitiligo is “autoimmune disease what influences wool with appearance White spots in the body, in mucous membranesand in hair also,” explains the doctor, adding that “it is associated with other autoimmune diseases, mainly diseases thyroid gland, diabetes, anemia or in other autoimmune dermatological diseases such as alopecia and psoriasis.”
Moreover, Lopez Estebarans states that “patients with vitiligo are more likely to suffer diseases affecting the mind“: increased anxiety or increased depression in a large percentage of patients.”
When treating a disease, “one must try slow progression of injuriess” for which there are different treatment methods. There are also “treatments for repigment spotsThese include phototherapy, which is by far the most effective treatment method,” says the doctor.
“They no longer consider us lepers of the 20th century.”
Rose Maria He is one of 900,000 people with vitiligo in Spain. The first spot that appeared on his skin occurred when he was 24 years. These were not easy years for Rose Maria, especially when she tried looking for a job or taking the kids to school and I felt people’s gazes.” However, as he says in COPE, “you have to move forward, get strong and try to get over it,” although he admits that “you’ll never get over it.”
At 62 years old, Rosa Maria has always enjoyed the support of her family, her children, whom she assures: “They were never ashamed of meand that helps a lot.”
Today there is more knowledge about this disease and “social networks and the media help” in this work, and therefore this confirms that “They no longer think of us as 21st century lepers.”