Good news for researchers, clinicians, and advocates: The Vitiligo Patient Journey Map is now an open-source resource.

We’ve removed all copyright restrictions and dedicated the map to the Public Domain (CC0 1.0 Universal) | by Vitiligo Research Foundation.

This means anyone — researchers, clinicians, educators, patient advocates, or support groups — can freely download, print, translate, modify, or use the map in any project, including commercial ones, without needing permission.

Why We Made This Change

When the map was first created in 2021, it carried a standard “All Rights Reserved” copyright. While that protected the work, it also created unnecessary legal friction for the very people who needed it most — doctors wanting to hang it in clinics, researchers adapting it for studies, and advocates sharing it with patients.

By moving it to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal dedication, we’re eliminating every barrier. No more permission requests. No more hesitation about using or adapting it.

This is a preview, – for a full-size image in different languages check links below. 

What This Means for You

Under the CC0 Public Domain license, you are free to:

• Share and distribute — Print copies for your clinic, support group meetings, or patient education sessions.
• Modify and adapt — Translate it into additional languages, update sections, or incorporate parts into new materials.
• Use commercially — Include it in textbooks, apps, websites, or healthcare platforms.

Preserving the Integrity of the Map

This resource is built on extensive mixed-methods research conducted between 2012 and 2020. It provides a comprehensive, bird’s-eye view of the real vitiligo patient experience — from noticing the first symptoms through treatment pathways and non-treatment/coping strategies.

To help others discover the original source and maintain consistency, we kindly suggest including this simple attribution when you use or share the map:

Public Domain (CC0 1.0 Universal) | by Vitiligo Research Foundation

(Attribution is appreciated but not required.)

Access the Map

The map is currently available in nine languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, and Ukrainian.

👉 You’ll find high-resolution files (screen and A0-print ready) plus editable vector source files in this shared folder: Google Drive – Vitiligo Patient Journey Map

If you have any trouble accessing the files or need assistance, just email us at info@vrfoundation.org.

We look forward to seeing how this map evolves in the hands of healthcare professionals, educators, and patients. Together, we can expand knowledge and improve care for those affected by vitiligo.

Yan Valle, 

Prof. h.c., CEO VRF

Note: This announcement updates our original post from October 23, 2024. We are refreshing the map in preparation for the upcoming World Vitiligo Day 2026 conference in Chandigarh, India (June 25–28, 2026), and we are currently working on a localized Hindi version to better serve the community in India.

Suggested Reading

• Vitiligo Patient Journey Map
• The Real Price Tag of Treating Vitiligo
• Vitiligo — A Global Creative Uprising
• Yan Valle's interview to The Waiting Room

Listen to Deep Dive in Vitiligo Podcast

• Vitiligo — A Global Creative Uprising (Ep. 52)
• How World Vitiligo Day Reached 60+ Million People in 24 Hours (Ep. 38)
• Navigating Vitiligo Patient Journey Map (Ep. 9)

Shared folder

Thanks

We sincerely thank our sponsors: Aksenov Family Foundation and Incyte for their support of this creative project all along the way. 

 

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  VIDEO: Vitiligo Patient Journey Map (7 min)
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  VIDEO: Congress Presentation (15 min)