Photographer who hid behind layers of fake tan after bullies called her a leopard has ‘cured’ her vitiligo by changing her diet
A PHOTOGRAPHER who hid behind layers of fake tan to cover her skin condition claims to have “cured” it by changing her diet.
Emma Thomson, 28, was cruelly called a “leopard” because of her vitiligo, which caused light patches of skin to appear on her neck, legs and face.
Vitiligo causes the immune system to attack pigment in the skin, leaving large white blotches across the face, arms, legs and body.
She was so embarrassed by her condition that she used specialist camouflage cream and smothered herself in fake tan twice a week so that the white spots couldn’t be seen.
But Emma, from Romford in Essex, now claims she has cured 80 per cent of her condition by cutting out sugar, wheat and dairy.
“I came back from a holiday in Egypt, I was told to stay out of the sun because due to my condition I would be at a greater risk of skin cancer,” she said.
“But I noticed brown freckles develop in my vitiligo spots and that was the first time I thought that I must be able to regain pigment.
“When I noticed it was coming back so much I thought there must be a cure out there, despite being told there wasn't one.
“A couple of years ago, I found online success stories online, where people with vitiligo regained skin colour by changing their diets and reducing their stress levels.
“I cut all sugar and most wheat, so I don't eat bread, pizza, fizzy drinks and alcohol, as well as no dairy and nothing processed.”
But nutritionists recommend you should never cut whole food groups out of your diet unless you are allergic or have dietary problems.
Now, Emma claims the vitiligo has disappeared from her legs and face, leaving only a small patch on her neck.
SKIN CONDITION What is vitiligo, is there a cure for it and how is the skin condition suffered by Winnie Harlow and Michael Jackson treated?
Emma's first vitiligo spot appeared on her spine when she was 13 years old.
“I had one very small white spot on my spine, it gradually appeared in other places like my face, all over my arms and legs, as well as my neck which are the most affected areas,” she said.
“I was told there was nothing they could do apart from apply steroid creams, which didn't do anything or light treatment which could increase my risk of skin cancer.
“I was upset because I thought it would carry on spreading and nothing could get rid of it, but then my mum found camouflage make-up through the British Red Cross.”
Emma’s self-confidence plummeted when she began to be bullied at school and boyfriends dumped her because of her condition.
“The boys at school would say I had leprosy, call me a leopard or just tell me I was ugly, I've blocked out a lot of it, but know I was very embarrassed,” she said.
“In my teenage years, because it had spread so much I used fake tan and general foundation, which worked out better off as no one could tell unless I took my make-up off.
“I would apply the fake tan twice a week all over my body and looked really orange.
“I even had a boyfriend split up with me because of vitiligo and another didn't want to go on a date with me because of it.
“It certainly made me more self-conscious, but as I got older I realised people like that weren't worth my time.”
Emma changed her diet on advice from her herbalist after being diagnosed with adrenal failure, caused by pituitary gland problems.
MORE ON SKIN CONDITIONS
She also suffers from polycystic ovaries syndrome.
“It was hard to hear there was no cure when I was young, I was quite depressed about it in school, but once I realised some areas were developing pigment again I became more positive,” she said.
“I'm hopeful that this could help others and have spoken to a lot of people who have worked on changing their diet and reducing their stress levels too.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368