"The vitiligo stole my face – but I recovered it with a second miracle liquid skin"

It started five years ago as a stain, no bigger than a 5p piece, on my forehead.

I remember looking in the mirror at this little patch of pale skin and thinking, "How strange it is.

I had no idea what it was or what was going to happen next.

In the coming weeks and months, this grain has grown. More and more of my face lost its pigment and turned white.

It was unbelievably painful.

With dark skin, the spots seemed particularly obvious.

I was a black woman who was getting white and it was a terrible shock.

I was referred to a dermatologist and diagnosed with vitiligo.

Nobody could tell me what triggered it.

It was a very depressing time and I felt totally hopeless.

The dermatologist explained that it was difficult to treat and that the spread would continue – which was the case.

Try everything

Before any new patch developed, the region would feel a bit difficult
first.

I constantly check the texture of my skin, looking for the story
signs of a new patch forming.

Eventually, about 80% of my face lost its original color.

I always had darker skin around the eyes and lips and then pale skin everywhere else.

My hands and toes have also developed white spots.

I tried light treatments and steroid creams, but nothing seemed to work.

My friends and family supported me well, but it was hard for me to accept it.

Makeup has become my shield against the eyes. I spent a fortune trying every base.

I also tried the specialist camouflage makeup, which is suitable for small tasks, but too thick and too heavy to wear on the face.

Over time, I slowly accepted my skin lighter and I apply makeup to make the patches less visible.

My partner only knew about vitiligo, and that does not matter to him.

But I always feel conscious of people looking if I go to the supermarket without makeup.

I am a secretary at a primary school and I always wear my face at work but not my hands. So I get some curious comments from the kids.

Discovery of a new option

Three months ago, I saw that the Vitiligo company was looking for people to
Try Microskin, a new "artificial skin" to cover pigmentation.

I thought, "Why not?"

The Microskin specialist matched the color of my skin and showed me how to mop up the product.

It takes me about 30 minutes to apply when I do it myself.

It dries very quickly, you put a powder on top, then it lasts several days.

When I looked at my face in the mirror, it was such a shock.

It sounds strange, but I forgot how dark my skin was.

It was amazing to see the old me watching me.

I've also been surprised by the naturalness of this product: it truly has the appearance of my skin.

I kept this first request for five days and my friends and family could not do without it.

I have two twin girls, aged 21, and when I got home that day, they just said, "Oh, our old mother is back!

I do not wear it every day, but it's perfect for parties or vacations, when I want to be at my best and do not worry about makeup or running.

I have a white spot on the thigh and this product helps me feel good in my bikini.

I will also wear it on vacation so I no longer need to sit on the beach covered with foundation.

I really see Microskin as a fantastic little confidence mask that I can put when I want. "

Microskin: the lowdown

● Microskin is a simulated skin that is buffered with a sponge or applied to the airbrush.

"It's nothing like cream-based make-up," says David Robinson of Microskin.

It is a liquid composed of micro-fine pigments of zinc oxide suspended in alcohol.

Alcohol evaporates in seconds, leaving behind a waterproof film that covers any discoloration of the skin.

● It can be used on men and women to cover vitiligo, birthmarks, tattoos, burns and scars.

"There are 35 shades and we are able to match all skin tones," said David.

"A consultant scanned the skin numerically, and then an individual corrected color formula can be mixed in the lab.

"The reactions are very rare, because the pigments are 100% natural, if any sensitivity occurs, it only lasts a few seconds, the time that the alcohol evaporates."

● The film contains tiny bubbles letting the air through so that the skin can "breathe" and sweat normally.

"It is not absorbed by the skin and does not stain, run or spill on clothing," says David.

You can also wash with an oil-free cleanser.

● Each application lasts up to seven days and is removed with a special oil cleaner.

It lasts longer on the body than on the face, where the skin has more natural oils to break down the product.

● Microskin is already in Australia, the United States and Asia and has been launched in the UK by Transform Clinics nationwide.

The initial consultation costs £ 399 and includes an application lesson and a Microskin stock for three months.

Other bottles can be ordered online, priced at £ 89 each, and the company is in the process of establishing charity partnerships with the UK, which can help reduce costs.

● Microskin was developed for Lord Of The Rings' make-up department, which was looking for a product that would cover tattoos for several days at a time.

Vitiligo: the facts

● Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses its natural pigment, melanin, and pale plaques develop.

They are painless, non-contagious and usually permanent.

● It can affect any part of the body, but usually appears on the face, neck, and hands.

● It is thought to be an autoimmune disease, the body attacking melanin-producing cells.

You may be at increased risk if you or a family member has another autoimmune disease.

Vitiligo can also be triggered by physical or emotional stress, or by skin lesions, such as severe sunburns or cuts.

● Creams and light therapy can help restore color to the skin or slow down the progression of the disease, but results vary from person to person. It is very rare that vitiligo disappears completely.