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.

In light of growing concerns about harmful side effects linked to certain medicines, including the recent controversy over Coldrif syrup, authorities have now banned two more cough syrups after traces of diethylene glycol (DEG) were found. This chemical has already been linked to 22 deaths in the country.

While all fatalities so far have been connected to Coldrif, regulators in India, the world’s third-largest producer of medicines have advised people to avoid Respifresh TR and ReLife as well, since DEG contamination was detected in them during inspections. None of these products had been exported.

With cough syrups becoming a growing concern, we spoke with Dr. Umashankar Sharma, Medical In-charge (B.N.Y.S), Kailash Institute of Naturopathy, Ayurveda & Yoga, who shared safe alternatives and home remedies that parents can use to keep their children safe.

What Is The Coldrif Cough Syrup Row?

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has informed the World Health Organization (WHO) that three cough syrups, Coldrif, Respifresh TR, and ReLife have been recalled and their production has been stopped. According to reports by PTI, none of these medicines were exported from India.

The syrups were found to contain DEG, a chemical normally used in industrial processes, which can be extremely harmful if ingested, especially by children. The WHO highlighted the severity of the contamination: Coldrif was found to contain nearly 50% diethylene glycol, a toxic industrial antifreeze. The other two syrups contained the same chemical in smaller amounts.

Last week, the owner of Sresan Pharmaceutical was arrested, and local authorities have revoked the company’s manufacturing licence.

How Does Cough Syrup Become Deadly?

Some cough syrups are made using diethylene glycol (DEG) or ethylene glycol (EG). These chemicals are colourless, odourless, and sweet-tasting, which makes them seem harmless. They are also cheap, which tempts some manufacturers to use them instead of safer, more expensive sweeteners in children’s medicines.

However, DEG and EG are highly toxic, especially for kids. Even small amounts can cause severe problems, including breathing difficulties, kidney failure, long-term disability, or death. For this reason, their use in medicines is banned in many countries. In India, DEG is only allowed in medications at very low levels which is 0.1% or less.

Safe Alternatives For Cough Syrups In India

Coughs in children are often caused by viral infections, allergies, or environmental irritants such as dust or smoke. Many over-the-counter syrups are not recommended for young kids as they may have side effects and offer little relief.

Dr. Umashankar recommends several safe home remedies that can ease a child’s discomfort naturally. He says, “Warm liquids like soups, clear broths, or mild herbal teas, such as chamomile, help keep the throat moist and reduce irritation. Honey is a great natural option for children over one year; half to one teaspoon before bedtime can help calm night-time coughing.”

He also suggests using a cool-mist humidifier in the child’s room to add moisture to the air, which can loosen mucus and ease breathing. Saline nasal drops or a short steam session in a warm shower can also help relieve congestion.

Ensuring the child gets plenty of rest and stays hydrated with water or warm drinks is essential. Slightly elevating their head with an extra pillow at night can reduce coughing while they sleep..

These remedies are generally safe and effective. However, if the cough persists for more than two weeks, or if the child experiences high fever, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, it’s important to consult a doctor to rule out more serious conditions.

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a condition that is hereditary and causes nerve cells in specific parts of the brain to slowly deteriorate and die. The disorder affects regions responsible for controlled and intentional movements, as well as those tied to mood, thinking, and personality. People with HD often develop jerky, dance-like body movements known as chorea, along with unusual postures and emotional or cognitive changes. For instance, they may experience sudden, uncontrollable motions in their hands, feet, face, or torso. These movements tend to worsen when the person feels anxious or distracted, and as the disease advances, they become more frequent and harder to manage.

Is Huntington’s Disease Genetic?

Also Read: Taking Amlodipine? NHS Issues Safety Warnings For Blood Pressure Patients, Here’s Why

The institute further explains that children who do not receive the mutated gene will never develop HD and cannot pass it on to their own children.

What Causes Huntington’s Disease?

Over time, this unstable protein builds up in the brain and damages nerve cells. As the mutation is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, one copy of the defective gene is enough to cause the disorder.

Huntington’s Disease Can Now Be Treated With Gene Therapy

The results, shared by the Amsterdam-based gene therapy company uniQure, were considered statistically significant across several clinical measures. Researchers also found lower levels of a harmful protein linked to brain cell damage in the spinal fluid of participants who received the treatment. Encouraged by these results, uniQure has announced plans to seek regulatory approval next year.

“This gene therapy represents a major step forward,” said Dr. Sandra Kostyk, a neurologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and one of the study’s investigators. “The data are encouraging.”

She added that while slowing the illness could mean more years of independence for patients, it is not a cure. Because of the small number of participants, more research and long-term follow-up are still needed.

Huntington’s Disease Symptoms You Need to Be Aware OfPeople with Huntington’s disease often lose control over their voluntary movements, which can affect daily functioning more severely than the involuntary jerks caused by chorea. Difficulties with voluntary movement can make it harder to work, communicate, and maintain independence.

According to the National Health Service, early signs may include trouble focusing or organizing tasks, forgetfulness, irritability, impulsive behavior, and changes in mood such as depression or anxiety. Other symptoms include small, uncontrollable jerks or twitches, clumsiness, and problems managing muscles.

Interestingly, symptoms can appear at any age but most often begin in a person’s 30s or 40s. When it develops before the age of 20, it is called juvenile Huntington’s disease. In such early-onset cases, symptoms may differ and the illness usually progresses more rapidly.

Health experts are raising alarms over a disturbing new trend in which drug users exchange blood to experience a shared high. Known as “bluetoothing,” this new practice is driving a sharp increase in HIV infections in regions such as Fiji and South Africa. Doctors warn that the recent rise in reported cases may only reveal a fraction of the potential damage linked to this dangerous act, which is also called “hotspotting.” But what exactly is behind this risky phenomenon, and why is it spreading?

What Is Bluetoothing and How Is It Linked to Rising HIV Cases?

Bluetoothing is a hazardous street practice where a person injects a potent drug such as heroin or meth, then withdraws a small amount of their own blood, now mixed with the drug, into a syringe and injects it into someone else to share the high. This process can continue from one person to the next, often using the same needle.

According to Brian Zanoni, a professor at Emory University who has studied drug-injecting behavior in South Africa, “it’s a cheap way to get high, but it comes with serious consequences as you’re essentially getting two doses for the price of one.” However, experts note that the effectiveness of this method is uncertain. Some believe the secondary injection produces only a mild high, while others argue it is just a placebo affect.

Why Is Bluetoothing So Dangerous for Health?

The idea of passing around drug-laced blood is so shockingly unsafe that for years, health professionals questioned whether it actually happened. Yet even if practiced by a small number of people, it can rapidly spread bloodborne diseases like HIV and hepatitis, prompting calls for an urgent public health response.

In Fiji, authorities have identified bluetoothing as a key factor behind an alarming rise in HIV rates. According to UNAIDS data, new HIV infections there increased tenfold between 2014 and 2024, leading to an official outbreak declaration in January.

About half of newly diagnosed individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment in Fiji reported contracting HIV through needle sharing, though it remains unclear how many knowingly exchanged blood. Most of these new cases were among people aged 15 to 34.

How Dangerous Is HIV and What Are Its Stages?

Without treatment, HIV gradually weakens the immune system, making the body vulnerable to serious infections. Over time, untreated HIV can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The progression of HIV occurs in three key stages for people who are not on treatment:

Acute HIV Infection

This first stage usually appears two to four weeks after exposure. Many people experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, rash, and headache. During this phase, the virus multiplies quickly and attacks the immune system’s CD4 cells, leading to a very high viral load and increased risk of transmission.

Chronic HIV Infection

In this second stage, the virus continues to replicate at low levels. People often do not show symptoms, but without antiretroviral therapy (ART), this stage can advance to AIDS within a decade or sooner. With proper treatment, individuals can live in this stage for many years.

AIDS

The final and most severe stage occurs when the immune system is badly damaged. The body becomes unable to fight off infections and certain cancers. A diagnosis of AIDS is made when CD4 counts fall below 200 cells/mm³ or specific infections appear. At this stage, the viral load is high and transmission risk increases sharply. Without treatment, life expectancy is typically around three years.

Since “bluetoothing” is not a wireless or digital act but an extreme form of intravenous drug use, protection begins with avoiding environments where it might occur. The safest approach is never to start injecting drugs. Acknowledge that this practice is real and extremely dangerous, rather than dismissing it as an online rumor, especially in communities where drug abuse and poverty are common.