23-year-old Woman with Vitiligo Gets a Tattoo to Explain Her Condition

Is there something about yourself that you dread having to explain over and over again to strangers? Have you considered getting a tattoo to lessen the constant questions while out on the town? Well, for 23-year-old Dionne Lees, she’s done just that. 10 years ago, Lees was diagnosed with vitiligo, a condition that causes loss of pigmentation in the skin, hair, and eyes. It’s incredibly common, affecting 1% of the population worldwide, however, it’s most noticeable on people with tan or dark skin. In recent years, several celebrities have come forward about their experience with vitiligo, including Victoria’s Secret model Winnie Harlow, UFC fighter Scott Jorgensen, and podcast host Joe Rogan.

For Lees, she spent her adolescence feeling ashamed of her condition, suffering from bullying and eventually leaving the sport of gymnastics. However, after the rise Winnie Harlow in the modeling world, Lees became inspired to wear her vitiligo with pride and recently got a tattoo to celebrate her unique skin.

“I was thinking about getting this tattoo for quite a long time now, so I’m super happy I’ve finally got it,” shared Lees with Daily Mail. “It’s kind of a symbol of full acceptance. I still get quite a few stares and instead of having to explain what these white patches are I just decided to get ‘It’s called Vitiligo’. Vitiligo will be with me forever and so will this tattoo so it does mean so much to me.”

What do you think of Lees’ new tattoo? Had you heard of vitiligo before reading this article? Let us know your thoughts and questions in the comments section.