Vitiligo: Not just a disease Michael Jackson claims to have

I really haven't a freakin clue if MJ actually has this or not (my guess is yes, he really does--check out this video), but I do recognize that sometimes it takes a confrontation with a more serious skin issue to put all our bitching and moaning and aging anxiety into perspective. Elana Kelly wears makeup everyday--since she was a small child, in fact--to cover up the lack of pigment caused by her vitiligo, which appears as two white circles around her eyes. And despite the fact that she went so far as to camouflage the areas even as a teenager at slumber parties, she's courageously sharing her story with hundreds of thousands of people in a new Vitiligo Society campaign to raise awareness about the condition.

Check out what Michael Jackson has to say about his life-long struggle with vitiligo.

Luckily, she admits that in the grand scheme of things, the psychological effects of the disease didn't harm her that badly: "She said her parents were keen to protect her from any bullying and so researched make-up. 'As a child of four, I have to admit that I was blissfully unaware of any difference between other children and myself. I never experienced any animosity, cruelty or name-calling and for that I must be eternally grateful, as not everyone is so fortunate.'"--BBC

Still, there is no cure, and despite laser treatments meant to mitigate the area, daily makeup application is Kelly's way to deal. If you want to learn more or know someone who could use the resources, check out The Vitilgo Society for information on the latest treatments and advances.

Read more about other serious skin conditions that many people deal with on an every day basis.

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