'Turning White': People with vitiligo finding hope
theGRIO REPORT - It was three years ago that Candise Jackson first noticed her skin changing color. 'My favorite is when people I haven't seen in a while ask ‘What happened...
“If you want to be black again, I can do this for you.”
His search for a better treatment led him overseas, first to Russia, and later Germany. While speaking at a Vitiligo Research Foundation conference in Russia, Thomas was directed to Dr. Karin Schallreuter, a dermatologist and professor at the University of Greifswald, whom he was told could bring his skin color back.
“My face was completely gone at that point and I said that I have had every treatment that there is in the United States,” he said. He flew to Germany to meet with Schallreuter and she laid out her plan for how she could get his color back.
“After talking to her, I told her I decided to try it,” he said. “I told her ‘after this conversation, you’re giving me something that I haven’t had in a long time and that’s hope. That’s a dangerous thing. It’s very disappointing when things don’t work and I’m tired of going through that.
“She said – in her German accent – that if you want to be black again, I can do this for you. But you need to want it.”
Thomas agreed to Schallreuter’s treatment, paying for it out of his own pocket. Many insurance companies consider vitiligo treatments to be a cosmetic issue and often will only pay for treatments in cases where the disease causes social and psychological problems such as depression.
Schallreuter’s treatments did not involve skin grafts or needles, but topical cream called pseudocatalase that he applies once a day and then follows with a UV light treatment over his entire body. He also had to shave his head to allow sunlight to penetrate his scalp.
“She said that my hair was like a bunch of tiny umbrellas,” Thomas said. “I said if I shave my head, I’ll have to cover my entire head with make up. I needed to wrap my head around that.”
Another part of the treatment is a three-week trip to the Dead Sea in Jordan, where the minerals in the water are good for the skin and help the pigmentation process. The combination of the cream, the water, and the UV treatments has helped him regain most of his skin color, which he debuted on June 24.
Thomas, like Candise Jackson, draws strength from her family and friends. Thomas’ co-workers and management at WJBK have fully stood behind him and he’s also learned to combat any negativity with a positive attitude.
“I’m 6-foot-2, about 190 lbs, so I’m not a small dude. At first when people would give me a funky face, I’d give them one right back. But that’s not me. Instead of giving that funky face, I started to smile. When I did that people started to ask questions and show love.
“When I started doing that at work – and I was hiding it at first – everyone started showing love back too. As soon as I changed my attitude, that’s when everyone else’s attitude around me changed. They have been nothing but loving and supportive.”
The slow return of his color has been a learning experience for his 5-year-old daughter. She has only known him to have mostly white skin.
“One time I saw her playing with one of her friends and she says ‘why is your dad’s face part brown?’,” he said. “My daughter said that ‘he’s just turning brown again.’ That’s the best thing about kids is that they just keep going.
“Fear comes from ignorance,” he added. “Once I educate kids – or anyone for that matter – they’re cool with it. It’s the adults that look at you funny.”
His message to anyone with vitiligo is simple: Be comfortable in your own skin.
“There is no right way,” he said. “If you’re comfortable in make-up, then wear make-up. If you want to cover up, then cover up. Don’t let minor incidents let this take you away from living. There is no formula for being comfortable. Just don’t let this disease take away from your personality, your joy, and your life.”
Jay Scott Smith is a contributor to TheGrio. You can follow him on Twitter @JayScottSmith.
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