Observed as World Vitiligo Day, 25th June is a day we celebrate and spread awareness about the vitiligo community. Started in 2011, this day was highlighted to support people who have this condition and spread awareness about it. According to Yale medicine, vitiligo is a disease that causes patches of skin to lose color, causing white spots. There is a lot of stigma around the condition and Yale Medicine experts have shared how vitiligo patients are often treated as ‘untouchables’, due to general lack of awareness.

An interesting fact about this skin condition is that many people started learning about it and understanding the nuances of the disease due to the public figures who opened up about it. Most notably, Micheal Jackson, who was under extreme scrutiny and suspicion for the change in his skin color. It wasn’t until his body autopsy report that people finally understood he had vitiligo and the extent of its impact.

The Micheal Jackson Effect

For years, people wondered why Michael Jackson's skin seemed to get lighter. He later confirmed that he had a skin condition called vitiligo. According to Vitiligo Clinic & Research Center, he publicly talked about it for the first time in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. He explained that his skin started changing around 1982, when he was about 24, and by the time of the interview, it had been progressing for about 10 years.

Vitiligo can indeed cause someone to lose most or all of their skin color, making them appear very white. However, this is rare and usually takes many years, with spots appearing gradually. So, it's unlikely that vitiligo alone caused his entire skin to turn so dramatically white.

Did Micheal Jackson Have Vitiligo?

There is a specific treatment for vitiligo that can remove any remaining dark pigment from the skin if a person has the condition. This treatment is a skin cream called monobenzone (also known as Benoquin). It's the only FDA-approved medication for this purpose for vitiligo. This cream doesn't typically work on people without vitiligo. It's a real vitiligo treatment for those who prefer to have an even, very light skin tone rather than a spotted appearance.

After his death, his autopsy report confirmed "patches of light and dark pigmented areas" on his skin, and vitiligo was noted in his medical records. Additionally, a tube of Benoquin cream was found among his medications, confirming he used this FDA-approved vitiligo treatment.

How Aware Are People About Vitiligo?

While Micheal Jackson may be the most known for this disease, there are other people who have this condition, like model and public figure Winnie Harlow. In a 2019 medical article published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the authors explained how awareness about diseases increases when a public figure goes through one. The authors explain the Micheal Jackson & Winnie Harlow Effect.

They conducted their research using Google Trends to see how often people searched for "vitiligo," "Michael Jackson," and "Winnie Harlow" all over the world from January 2004 to December 2018. Google Trends shows how popular certain search terms are over time and in different places.

The highest number of searches for vitiligo happened between June 28, 2009, and July 4, 2009, right after Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009. This was the biggest surge in vitiligo searches in 14 years. His autopsy later confirmed he had vitiligo.

While his death caused a huge spike in vitiligo searches, it was hard to see a strong connection between him and vitiligo searches before or immediately after his death when compared directly. However, the overall impact of his passing on vitiligo searches was still very noticeable, especially when compared to other skin conditions during that time.

Celebrity Impact on Disease Awareness

The study explained that both Michael Jackson and Winnie Harlow are very well-known people who have had vitiligo. However, Michael Jackson mainly affected vitiligo searches after his death. After that peak, searches went back to normal levels. In contrast, Winnie Harlow is famous because of her vitiligo. She openly shows her skin patches, appears in public, and uses social media to encourage and support others with the condition. Vitiligo searches increase whenever she is in the news

Understanding Vitiligo – Can It Be Passed Down Genetically?

The Mayo Clinic explains that family history could play a part in vitiligo. If someone in your family has had vitiligo, it increases your chances of developing it significantly. Other factors include having an immune disorder, or going through a trigger event such as stress, severe burn or skin trauma, such as coming in contact with a certain chemical.

A 2018 Dermatology Clinic study concluded that it is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells—in this case, melanocytes. There is a complex relationship between how the immune system is programmed, how melanocytes are targeted, and how the immune response becomes unregulated.

Common Myths About Vitiligo

Many medical professionals and researchers have been actively debunking common myths about the disease and helping people learn more about the skin condition. In a 2022 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, the authors debunk common myths about the disease.

Myth 1: Vitiligo is More Common in People with Darker Skin

It's a common belief that vitiligo affects people with darker skin more often. However, this isn't true. While the white patches of vitiligo are much more noticeable on darker skin, the condition affects people of all skin tones at similar rates.

Myth 2: Vitiligo Only Affects Adults

Many people think vitiligo is mainly an adult condition, but that's incorrect. Nearly half of all people who get vitiligo develop it before they turn 20 years old.

Myth 3: Mental Health Issues Are the Same for Vitiligo Patients and Others

This is a big myth. People with vitiligo are much more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to those without the condition. For example, one study found that 62% of vitiligo patients suffered from depression or anxiety, compared to only 25% of healthy individuals.

Myth 4: Only People with Darker Skin Feel the Emotional Toll of Vitiligo

The emotional and social challenges of living with vitiligo affect everyone, no matter their skin color. While the overall emotional burden is similar across all patients, there can be some differences in what concerns them most.

Myth 5: All Body Areas Repigment at the Same Speed

Different parts of the body can regain color at different rates. Two main factors influence how quickly a vitiligo patch repigments. Areas that get more sun exposure tend to repigment faster. Areas with more hair follicles tend to repigment more quickly because hair follicles contain pigment-producing stem cells.

'Medical Memoir' is a Health & Me series where we delve into some of the most intriguing medical history and unveil how medical innovations have evolved overtime. Here, we trace the early stages of all things health, whether a vaccine, a treatment, a pill, or a cure.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), smallpox was officially eradicated in 1980. The last naturally occurring case was diagnosed in Somalia in 1977. In 1980, the WHO declared it to be eradicates, along with the World Health Assembly, marking it as the first human infectious disease to be eradicated worldwide.

So, why are we topic about it today?

Well, for two reasons. What makes it very special is because it was the only human disease to be eradicated so far, mentions WHO. Secondly, the vaccine that worked for its eradication was developed by accident.

A Disease Centuries Old

For centuries, smallpox was humanity’s most merciless enemy — wiping out millions without regard for age, status or geography. It struck kings and commoners alike, killing at least one in every three it infected. In its deadliest form, the toll was even worse.

The disease didn’t just kill — it tortured. Victims first faced high fever, relentless vomiting, and painful mouth sores. Then came the hallmark: fluid-filled blisters that erupted across the body like a cruel constellation. Death often followed within two weeks. And for those who lived, the aftermath could be just as cruel — many were left blind, scarred, or infertile for life.

The disease was indeed deadly, it infected Mozart and also Abraham Lincoln.

The worst part? No cure was known. It began as early as in the 1350 BCE, studied in Egyptian mummies. There were practices too in parts of Africa, called variolation, name for smallpox. We also find written accounts from China from the mid-1500s that also describe forms of variolation used in China, where smallpox scabs were dried, ground and blown into the nostril using a pipe. In India, a similar method known as inoculation involved pricking the skin of healthy children with a lancet or needle dipped in material from smallpox pustules. Historical records from the 18th century indicate that this practice had been in use for centuries.

An Accidental Observation That Saved Lives

It was not until May 1796, when the world's first smallpox vaccine had been demonstrated, using the same principle as variolation, but with a less dangerous viral source, cowpox.

It was an English physician Edward Jenner who noticed that milkmaids who had contracted cowpox appeared to be protected form smallpox. This led him to hypothesize that cowpox could be used to induce immunity against smallpox. In 1796, Jenner inoculated a young boy, James Phipps, and exposed him to smallpox. He did not develop the disease.

This is how Phipps became the first person in history to be vaccinated against smallpox.

While the experiment, absolutely against today's safety standards, proved the principle of vaccination and marked the very beginning of the chapter that ended smallpox.

Hearing loss isn't just an inconvenience—it can lead to serious social and emotional consequences. With devices blasting music directly into our ears and constant exposure to urban noise, protecting your hearing is more important than ever. Here's how to keep your ears healthy throughout your life.

Hearing Loss Isn’t Just for the Elderly

Many people think hearing problems come with old age. But the truth is, hearing health should be a lifelong priority. Early awareness and care can reduce long-term damage and stigma. Communication is key to our personal and professional lives, and struggling to hear can lead to frustration, embarrassment, and isolation.

Age and Its Effects on Hearing

While anyone can experience hearing issues, age is a major factor. Over 40% of people over 50 and more than 70% over 70 deal with some degree of hearing loss. Often, it creeps up slowly—people assume others are mumbling or blame background noise. It’s usually loved ones who first notice the issue, pointing out the loud television or constant requests to repeat themselves.

Noise Exposure Is a Growing Concern

In earlier decades, occupational noise was the biggest hearing threat. Today, it’s recreational noise—especially headphones and personal devices. Audio technology has improved so much that users can raise the volume dangerously high without noticing distortion. This makes it easier to cause long-term harm to hearing.

Protect Your Ears in Loud Environments

Noise above 85 decibels—think concerts, clubs, or power tools—can damage your ears quickly. Earplugs are a simple and effective solution. Special musician-grade options preserve sound quality while reducing volume. Custom earplugs are also available for frequent concertgoers or those in loud work environments.

Use Headphones Wisely

Personal audio devices should be used with caution. Experts recommend the 50/50 or 60/60 rule: keep volume at 50–60% and limit use to 50–60 minutes at a stretch. Noisy surroundings can tempt you to increase volume—resist the urge. Instead, consider noise-cancelling headphones or moving to a quieter area.

Get Your Hearing Tested

Many people live with undiagnosed hearing loss for years. Fortunately, testing is easier than ever. Quick online hearing checks are available through trusted health organizations. If any issues are detected, follow up with a professional for a detailed evaluation.

Don’t Ignore Sudden Changes

If you wake up with severe hearing loss in one ear, or experience repeated infections, seek medical attention promptly. Inflammation in the inner ear can cause lasting damage if left untreated. Sometimes, steroids can help if administered quickly.

Respect the Role of Earwax

Earwax is often misunderstood. Far from being a sign of poor hygiene, it protects and moisturizes the ear canal. Avoid using cotton buds, which can cause irritation or push wax deeper. Let wax exit naturally or have it removed professionally if needed.

When to Consider Hearing Aids

Modern hearing aids are discreet, effective, and available through public health services in many areas. They help people stay socially connected, which is essential for mental health and healthy aging.

A chronic and lifelong disease, type 1 diabetes is a condition that causes people to have high levels of sugar in their blood. The MedlinePlus explains that it can occur at any age, to children, adolescents, or young adults. Being diagnosed with it means that one must be on medication for the rest of one's life. However, a new study may have changed that outcome.

A groundbreaking new stem cell-based treatment may have enabled most patients with severe type 1 diabetes to stop using insulin, according to recent research. The therapy, called zimislecel and developed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, involves a single infusion of lab-grown islet cells—specialized cells crucial for blood sugar regulation.

Insulin and Type 1 Diabetics Treatment

Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the study showed that after a year of receiving the zimislecel infusion, 10 out of 12 study participants no longer needed daily insulin shots. The remaining two patients were able to significantly reduce how much insulin they required.

Experts described the work as pioneering. He emphasized that being free from insulin can profoundly change a person's life. These encouraging findings were shared at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in Chicago.

Why Do Type 1 Diabetics Need Insulin?

The NHS UK explains that our body needs insulin to break down glucose, i.e. sugar, to turn it into energy. People who have type 1 diabetes need insulin devices as their own body cannot produce it. As there is no insulin in their body, their blood glucose level can get really high.

There are insulin pens as well as other devices that inject insulin safely into one’s body, these devices help you inject the right dose. Other people use insulin pump which gives small amounts of insulin throughout the day.

How the Treatment Functions

The zimislecel therapy uses stem cells that are carefully grown into islet cells in a lab. These engineered cells, which regulate blood sugar, are then put into the patient's body. They settle in the liver and start making insulin, aiming to replace the damaged islet cells that are lost in type 1 diabetes.

Addressing a Serious Complication

Around 2 million Americans have type 1 diabetes, which typically develops in childhood or early adulthood. It occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the islet cells in the pancreas. Without these cells, the body cannot produce insulin.

This particular study focused on individuals with a severe type 1 diabetes complication known as hypoglycemic unawareness. These patients cannot tell when their blood sugar is dangerously low. They often miss important warning signs like sweating or shakiness, which can lead to fainting or seizures. Researchers explained that this condition leads to a constant state of worry for patients, always thinking about their glucose levels, what they eat, and when they exercise.

Life-Changing Improvements for Patients

Within months of getting the treatment, patients started needing less insulin. Most were completely off the hormone within six months. Even better, dangerous low blood sugar episodes stopped within the first 90 days.

This potential medical breakthrough is the result of more than 25 years of committed research. The scientists spent ears testing ways to turn stem cells into islet cells, with an estimated $50 million invested in the research by Harvard and other groups.

One patient in the trial, Amanda Smith, a 36-year-old nurse in Canada, no longer needed insulin just six months after receiving the treatment. She described it as feeling like a completely new life.

The cost of the treatment has not been announced yet, as it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the researchers believe that for now, this treatment looks promising for patients severely affected by the condition, like those in the study.