In November 2024, I noticed a tiny white patch on my forehead shortly after using a new hydrating serum, which I knew wouldn’t cause hypopigmentation. I work in a dermatology clinic, so I showed it to the dermatologist I work with. At first, we suspected a fungal infection, but after weeks of treatment with no improvement, I was diagnosed with vitiligo.
Before I started treatment, I would deliberately turn my forehead towards the sun, hoping the area would tan and become less noticeable. Instead, I felt like it was spreading, especially towards my eyebrow, and I worried about what my face would look like in the future.
As the patch became more visible, people often asked if I was wearing a pimple patch on my forehead. There was also a running joke among my friends that I should just embrace it and become a vitiligo model. One of them even nicknamed me “Little Miss Sunshine”. They meant well and were trying to help me see the positive side.
I started treatment with tablets, which were expensive and difficult to find. Later, I found the topical solution my doctor had originally recommended, and it was much more affordable. Following medical advice, I combined treatment with controlled sun exposure.
After I finished the tablets, I started using the solution, which is more reactive to sunlight. Unfortunately, I stayed in the sun longer than I was supposed to and badly burnt the area. My forehead became pink, dark, and painful. People kept asking if I had been in an accident or if someone had hit me.
I stopped all treatment and focused on healing. Then, to my surprise, pigment slowly started returning. Week by week, the patch became smaller until it completely repigmented.
By May 2025, my skin had fully recovered.
Although I still get anxious whenever I feel an itch on my forehead, this experience taught me patience, resilience, and empathy for others living with vitiligo.
I know I was fortunate to catch it early and have access to a dermatologist. My journey may have ended with complete repigmentation, but it gave me a deeper understanding of the emotional impact vitiligo can have and a greater appreciation for everyone navigating their own journey with the condition.
As narrated by: Osoasuwei Davies (Lagos, Nigeria).
This snippet is published as part of the series, The Complex Reality of Vitiligo.
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