It’s World Vitiligo Day on June 25‚ the day first observed in 2011 as a memorial to Michael Jackson who had the condition that causes loss of skin colour in blotches.

As part of the initiative‚ a local organisation‚ LOVEauthentic‚ invites anyone living with Vitiligo to post a photograph or message on its site.

Baveesha Naran‚ the founder of the organisation‚ hid her condition for more than 30 years. LOVEauthentic is‚ through its photography campaign‚ trying to help people with Vitilogo who are struggling to accept they have condition and to prevent the segregation and bullying of those with the illness.

People’s skin colour is determined by melanin but skin colour changes when the cells that produce melanin die or stop functioning‚ according to the LOVEauthentic statement.

Although the condition is not life-threatening or contagious it may have a psychosocial effect on a person’s quality of life. Depression‚ anxiety‚ self-consciousness and stigmatisation is frequent among those with Vitiligo.

 www.loveauthentic.co.za

@loveauthentic.co.za

www.facebook.com/LOVEauthenticsa