Since 2011, on June 25th each year, World Vitiligo Day has been celebrated with great enthusiasm and zeal across the globe. However, due to the unexpected outbreak of the novel Coronavirus last year, the day was commemorated differently in 2020 as well as this year. WVD conferences across Europe and North America went virtual, still offering the global vitiligo community opportunities to exchange stories and support.
This year too, vitiligans from across the world raised awareness around the harmless and widely misunderstood skin disorder – vitiligo and discussed important development in new vitiligo treatment options and research. Here’s what all happened around the globe on the occasion of World Vitiligo Day 2021.
Asia
World Vitiligo Day 2021’s international headquarters continued its journey and moved from Serbia to Indonesia, under the leadership of Dr. Srie Prihianti Gondokaryono. Keeping the COVID-appropriate protocols in mind, the annual WVD celebrations were packed into an online-only, virtual event. With support from the Indonesian Society of Dermatology & Venereology, various conferences were conducted between June 25 and June 26th, 2021, and were broadcasted from Jakarta.
In India, where an estimated 1312.2 million people live with vitiligo, many virtual VWD campaigns were launched, including the ones organized by SupportVitiligo. To sensitize people on the skin condition, SupportVitiligo, the country’s oldest vitiligo support network, re-released the “It’s Your Choice ” video under a crucial vitiligo awareness campaign. The support network’s social channel handle also launched #StoriesHelp video series during the vitiligo awareness month.
Lenskart, a prominent optical care brand from India, also sensitized its huge customer base on vitiligo through the #SeeTheGood campaign, featuring Riya Agrawal.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQh-OpUAD0X/
Europe
London-based celebrity chef Dean Edwards once again raised awareness on vitiligo. He shared his latest clean-shaven picture on his social handles, captioning it “Little throwback to the last time I fully shaved off my beard to see how much the vitiligo had spread on my face. To be honest I always said to myself that I didn’t mind having it on my body but I really prayed that I wouldn’t get it on my face. Fast forward two years and now I’m covered ha ha. I’m in a great place with it though. Spreading love through positivity on world vitiligo day.”
Little throw back to the last time I fully shaved off my beard to see how much the vitiligo had spread on my face. I’m in a great place with it though. Spreading love through positivity on world vitiligo day. Take care of yourselves x #WorldVitiligoDay pic.twitter.com/jeiEpkUxcX
— Dean Edwards (@Deanedwardschef) June 25, 2021
Americas
The 2021 Celebration of World Vitiligo in the United States took place virtually as well. A prominent event by MyVitiligoTeam and the Global Vitiligo Foundation was moderated by Sharon King, Creator, Litty Ligo, Eric Peacock, Co-Founder, MyVitiligoTeam, and Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi, Co-Chair, Global Vitiligo Foundation. The virtual summit discussed latest in the vitiligo research and treatment opportunities. The discussion also focused on the skin condition’s impact on an individual’s mental and emotional health, promoting open dialogue about the social impact of vitiligo.
