Living with vitiligo: Christina’s Story

Living with a visible autoimmune disease like vitiligo: Christina shares her story for Vitiligo Awareness Month

We are proud to have recently partnered with The Vitiligo Society who offer crucial support for those with a vitiligo diagnosis. During Vitiligo Awareness Month, and to mark this exciting partnership, we are sharing Christina's story. Christina lives with vitiligo and other autoimmune diseases and is also one of our listening volunteers. Her story highlights the unique emotional impact of living with a visible autoimmune disease, the challenges of self-advocacy, and the importance of being truly heard.

A diagnosis that changed everything

When Christina first noticed a small white patch on her hand shortly after the birth of her son, she thought very little of it.

"I assumed I'd scraped my hand and that it was simply scar tissue that wasn't tanning like the rest of my skin."

But over the following months, more patches appeared. A visit to her GP quickly led to a diagnosis of vitiligo. Unlike many autoimmune conditions, which can take years to diagnose, vitiligo is often recognisable by its appearance. For Christina, there was no lengthy search for answers. Even so, receiving the diagnosis was devastating.

"I knew it was a lifelong autoimmune condition with no cure, and that over time it would progress and cover more of my body." At the time, Christina was around 40 years old and adjusting to life as a newly single parent.

Vitiligo causes patches of skin to lose their pigment. While it is often viewed as an autoimmune disease that affects the skin, its impact can extend far beyond appearance. Over the past 15 years, Christina's vitiligo has become widespread and highly visible.

"Every summer, as my skin tans and the patches become prominent again, it feels like an annual reminder that the condition is progressive and continuing to spread."

For Christina, the greatest challenge has been the effect on her self-esteem. She recalls sitting on stage during a professional panel event in her role as a senior leader within a multinational technology company.

"I became acutely aware that the white patches on my knees were visible. Instead of being fully focused on the discussion, part of my mind was consumed with worrying about whether people were staring, judging or wondering about the patterns on my skin." Experiences like this affected her confidence for many years.

A wider autoimmune journey

For Christina, vitiligo was only the beginning of her autoimmune journey. Since her diagnosis, she has developed other autoimmune conditions that have, at times, left her extremely unwell and required years of self-advocacy before she received answers.

"One of the realities of living with autoimmune disease is that it can be incredibly difficult to diagnose. There is often a huge amount of self-advocacy involved. You have to keep pushing for the right tests, the right referrals, the right specialists and to be taken seriously."

Even during periods when her health is stable, vitiligo remains a visible reminder of everything she has experienced. "Every time I look in the mirror it reminds me that I live with underlying autoimmune disease."

Like many people living with chronic illness, Christina has learned not to take her health for granted.

"There have been times when autoimmune flares have stopped me doing the things I love most, like running and yoga. Because of that, I've developed a deep appreciation for the times when I do feel healthy and strong."

Despite the challenges, Christina speaks openly about the lessons her experience has taught her. "Autoimmune disease continues to teach me a great deal about empathy, resilience and self-advocacy."

Over time, she has reached a place of greater acceptance of her vitiligo.

"There are still moments where I feel self-conscious and situations where I instinctively try to cover it, but for the most part I've reached a place of acceptance. This is my skin, and this is part of my story."

"I have a wonderful son, amazing family and friends, a career I'm proud of and a life filled with many things that matter far more deeply than appearance." Living with autoimmune disease has changed her perspective on wellbeing.

"It's taught me not to take health, energy or ordinary days for granted. It's made me grateful for small victories, more present in the good moments and aware of how precious wellbeing really is."

Finding The Wren Project

After coming through a particularly difficult period with her health, Christina decided to train for a marathon and raise money for an autoimmune charity. That search led her to The Wren Project.

She went on to complete the marathon and raise around £1,500 before becoming a Listening Volunteer. She has now been volunteering with us for around 18 months.

Through her role, she has seen first-hand the emotional challenges many people living with autoimmune conditions face.

"One of the biggest challenges with autoimmune disease is that it's often invisible, unpredictable and incredibly difficult to explain to people who haven't experienced it themselves."

She believes that having a safe space to talk openly can make a profound difference.

"What Wren offers is something very special. A space where people can feel truly heard, understood and validated without judgement."

Sharing her story publicly has not been easy. "Doing this interview has been harder than I expected. Preparing to speak openly about it has revealed the parts of it that I quietly carry with me every day."

But she hopes that by speaking honestly about her experiences, others may feel less isolated.

"I don't want to spend the rest of my life or career hiding parts of who I am in order to appear more acceptable."

And perhaps Christina’s most powerful reflection is this:

"This is me. This is my skin. This is part of my journey. And if sharing that honestly helps even one person feel less alone, less ashamed or more understood, then it will have been worth it."

Christina shared her story with the Wren Project as part of our Wren Voices campaign. If you would like to share your experience of autoimmune disease with us, you can reach out by emailing hello@wrenproject.org.

If you live with vitiligo and would like specific support, please visit The Vitiligo Society

If you live with an autoimmune disease and would like to access free emotional support from the Wren Project, you can reach out to us here