Not long after Tonja Johnson was diagnosed, she knew her days out in the direct summer sun were, for the most part, over. In 2013, Johnson was living in Lakeland and working as a program manager for the Hillsborough County Department of Health. It was around that time that she learned she was one of the approximately 2-4 million Americans who have a disease called vitiligo.
Vitiligo occurs when pigment-producing melanocytes die or stop producing melanin. The disease results in a patchy loss of skin color and it can occur at any age. It tends to progress over time, with larger areas of the skin losing pigment, resulting in patchy white spots. Vitiligo can be caused by an autoimmune disorder, heredity or trauma to the skin.
During the intense, sunny summer months, vitiligo patches easily burn or scar since there isn’t any natural protection from the sun. That means Johnson and others with vitiligo must cover their skin and seek shade during the hottest, brightest days of our Florida summer.
Johnson has now lost more than 85 percent of her skin color and says she sunburns very easily. She must now closely monitor her sun exposure, especially during the summer months.
“Learning to adapt has been important,” she says.
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