Ducati Monster Forum

Just got diagnosed with this awful thing.  Basically immune system kills skin pigment.  If anyone has any info, do please share.  Affecting face and other regions.  I do not wish this on my enemies. 

Sorry to learn about this .  .  .

Friend of mine has it, she just, lives with it and covering up; she is still a beautiful woman

Thanks for responding.  it is tough thing to deal with.  losing oneself and identity that i have known and seen all my life slowly is really really hard.

sorry to hear man. Does it hurt at all?

Maybe check out something like microart if it doesnt hurt. I dont know much about Vitiligo though.

Does NOT hurt at all physically.  But now i fear the mirror so much.  In the morning before i look in the mirror, i say a prayer to not have more spots/blotches appear and continue spreading especially on the face and other visible parts.  It is really tough to lose the person i knew and was familiar with slowly on a daily basis now.  I used to like small chats comical chats with people say in a long line or the barrister's at starbucks or such, but now i have to remember that I am not me anymore and my appearance is changing.  It is just tough and sucks.  i keep thinking about future job interviews and things like that and how this will affect life.  

Only thing I can share with anyone reading this is that this is not contagious at all.  If you see people with this damn thing, do not be afraid or change your view.  Just smile and don't change your behavior or be afraid.

I will definitely look into the micro art.  thanks for the info.

Sorry to hear.  I have nothing to add other than this would not change my opinion of you.

I by no means intend this to make light of your situation, but make friends with a blind person. Then when you begin to see yourself the way they see you, maybe this transition into the new you will be less of a struggle.

I actually see someone with Vitiligo atleast once a month, but thats because I live in the city. Alls i knows is, they just look different. other then that, the point is moot. if someone is going to judge you for how you look, you dont want to be friends with them anyway.

If you didnt have a mirror, would you really notice your own changes? i know its hard to compare because it aint happening to me and its a very personal thing. But stop looking in the mirror and keep being who you are, keep taking to people and keep trying to make OTHERS smile. Most decent people will see right through that unless you live in a cinncinazi or some where thats intolerant of differences, then you want to move asap.

Let me know what you think of microart. They deal with Vitilgo apparently and looks like they do a pretty good job too.

I had the pleasure of working with someone with vitiligo. She was a beautiful Indian young lady. She was shy at first, very likely because of the condition, but she eventually became comfortable enough with us.

I haven't heard of this so I did some quick reading.

It's not hurting you physically, you're still going to have friends & family and your job. All that's really changing is your *look*

I'm heavily accepting of anyone, gay, straight, tattooed, whatever. All it comes down to for me is are they cool or are they a dick?

What will have the greatest affect on this process is *you*  The way you perceive things affects your reality. I know you're not loving life right now but you do have the ability to change that.

Life is full of change and sometimes that can be hard but how hard it is can always be controlled by you to some degree.

I guess the point of all this is though you may feel like it, you are not powerless.

Thanks everyone for the supporting words.  I need it and appreciate it.

So how's things?

Thanks for checking.  I do appreciate it.

It's affecting more and more areas.  I have grown a huge beard to cover the blotch on my chin that is spreading.  It has grayed out all my beard hair.  Above my forehead, it is spreading large.  Under my eye now and nose now.   I feel it is going to hit my hand and feet next.  It's tough and i am working on dealing and accepting it.   The face is the one that is just hard to deal with.  I am thankful it didn't hit me in my early years, i am now in my early 40's.

Riding the motorcycle helps a lot and just forget things and hide under that helmet.   i hope it stops where it is at now.  I really hope and pray.

Keep me in your prayers.

Thanks

Hang in there, man.

My wife has universal vitiligo. She struggles with the looks she gets when people notice it. But everyone seems totally understanding and accepting. I don't even notice it anymore.

Damn, clicked on this thinking it was a new Ducati model.
Sorry, man. Keep your chin up, beauty's only skin deep and all that.  [beer]

Well it has now been over 2 1/2 year since diagnosis.  I have lost 80% of my front face colour and probably 75% everywhere else.  It attacked fast.  It has changed me and i try not to catch a glimpse of myself in mirror etc as I simply dont recognize that person anymore.  It is pretty tough.  Most people seem ok when dealing with me - I appreicate the ones that go out of their way to shake hands or talk as it kind of normalizes things and for which I am grateful.  But i have encountered people that stare and just keep staring which really reminds me when they do that how hideous i look, there are those that stay away from me as if I am contagious, kids just stare as they dont know any better which is understandable, some just try to avoid any contact whatsoever.  Anhyhow, I am thankful it didnt happen as a youngster as I cant imagine how harder that is.  Anyhow, working on dealing with it and trying to be grateful to be alive and kicking.

Lesson to all is that tomorrow is not promised and enjoy yourself now while you can :)

On the bike front, my triumph speed triple engine kind of blew up this summer at around 57K miles partly due to my fault.  My 620monster is still at a friends garage for the past 2 years or so to be worked on.  So I am now down to riding my Honda Grom.

Was just wondering how things were going for you...

Thanks for checking.  I lost a lot of Colour everywhere.  70% of my face colour is gone.  It’s tough.  I hate the mirror as I don’t recognize myself anymore in my brain. I don’t wish this on any being.   I try to think positive and move on.  It is not easy.  But atleast I am still around and it could be worse. 

Biggest worry is if I will ever be hired when one of this Days when the constant job layoffs gets me. That frightens me.  I have no other backup skill to fall on. It’s not like anyone will hire me with this look.  I hope I am wrong.

Anyhow, sorry to sound a downer, but that’s reality. 

On bike front, my monster 620 2004 is out in Missouri for few years to be fixed up of her lagging issue when throttle up. 
My triumph engine blew up over a year ago.  Saved up last year and just got her engine replaced with one from eBay with 24k miles few weeks ago. Need to get the oil leak sorted out. 
My Grom has been my daily Whebever weather allows it. 

I hope things are well on your side. 

Well enough, friend. Glad your bikes are getting sorted and glad you're, mostly, hanging in there.

I don't mean to be asking a stupid question but with how deeply this has affected you is cosmetic tattooing an option?

Not stupid question.  The hardest part is face and hands.  Don’t really see tattooing those. 

That's your call. I think plenty of people do it but not to the coverage extent you'd likely be looking at. I bet someone that was good at this could make it work.

I know it's popular with women who want permanent makeup tattooed on.

Thought it is just normal tattoo.  Will research cosmetic tattoo.  Thanks.

Looked into micro art but that temporary for few weeks and expensive. 

Thanks

The cosmetic stuff seems to be done more by women and they're not your run off the mill tattoo artist. I *think* they actually have a medical cert for that specific practice. Good luck, man.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49523769833_e0eae3520b_m.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2isfgoz)images (https://flic.kr/p/2isfgoz) by Tony Kokonis (https://www.flickr.com/photos/150482584@N03/), on Flickr

Hope this cheers you up. The young lady (Winnie Harlow) is a well known model. Everyone please take this in the spirit intended.