Podcasts - 31 Mar `25From Tribute to Triumph: How World Vitiligo Day Became a Global Movement (9 min)

Podcast

How did a small Michael Jackson tribute event in Lagos, Nigeria, snowball into a global movement for vitiligo awareness? Spoiler: it didn’t happen overnight.

In this episode, we dive into the unlikely origins of World Vitiligo Day, thanks to the grit and determination of people like Professors Torello Lotti and Yan Valle, who kickstarted a grassroots campaign right in the middle of a global economic crisis—and turned it into a worldwide force for change. We’re going back to late 2000's, a time when social media was barely a thing, and building a community of advocates wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.

We’ll uncover how pioneers like Professor Savita Malhotra, Steve Hargadon, and Valerie Molyneux built support networks that are still going strong. And you’ll hear how Ogo Maduewesi’s Vitiligo Purple Fun Day became the spark that lit a global fire, highlighting the human side of vitiligo and the need for serious research. World Vitiligo Day, celebrated on June 25th, isn’t just a date on the calendar—it’s a reminder of the strength, resilience, and sheer willpower of people living with this misunderstood condition. We dig into the mental health impact of vitiligo and why awareness and research are more critical than ever in a treatment landscape with no one-size-fits-all solution.

This episode is a tribute to everyone who’s fought back against the stigma and confusion surrounding vitiligo, proving that grassroots movements can flip the script and start real conversations that matter. Tune in for a dose of raw, unfiltered truth about how change really happens—and why it’s worth the fight.

 



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FAQOther Questions

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  • Does vitiligo increase the risk of skin cancer?

    No, it does not. Despite common misconceptions, people with vitiligo are actually at a lower risk of developing skin cancer—including both nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and mal...

  • Red Wine and Vitiligo

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