Vitiligo sufferer reveals how Instagram gave her confidence to flaunt her patches

A glamorous young woman with vitiligo hid her skin condition under thick makeup and long socks for years – because of bullies who told her she looked like a burns victim.

But Cat Spedding, 24, from Harrogate, North Yorks, finally learned to embrace her condition after seeing other sufferers and the model Winnie Harlow share photos on social media. 

Vitiligo causes the immune system to attack pigment in the skin, leaving large white blotches across the face, arms, legs and body.

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Cat Spedding, 24, , from Harrogate, North Yorks, has proudly embraced her vitiligo after years of being bullied for the white patches caused by the rare skin condition 

The optical assistant was first diagnosed at the age of 13 when small white dots started appearing around her eyes 

Cat was diagnosed with the rare skin complaint at the age of 13 after she began noticing light dots around her eyes.

The condition, which worsens and spreads over time, has left Cat with white patches around her eyes and calves as well as on her chest, hips and hands.

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Until last year Cat hid her vitiligo under knee-high socks and heavy makeup because without them she claims people would shout at her in the street, calling her a burns victim.

Cat, an optical assistant, said: ‘The doctors gave me this cover cream which is like a really thick concealer so I would wear that all the time and knee high socks.

Vitiligo causes the immune system to attack pigment in the skin, leaving large white blotches across the face, arms, legs and body

For years, Cat would cover up her legs by wearing long socks or knee high boots as she felt too self-conscious to reveal her skin 

‘If I went out without them I would get people staring and saying horrible things to me in the street. People would shout “what the f*** is that?” or “are you a burns victim?” at me.

‘My self-confidence really suffered but it also made me really angry. I don’t understand why you would do that to someone.

‘It wouldn’t have bothered me if people had come over to ask me about my condition but some people are just really ignorant. It used to get me down.’

At 13 Cat’s vitiligo was just tiny white dots around her eyes and on the front of her calves under her knees.

Seeing fellow sufferers show off their condition on social media gave Cat the confidence to finally embrace her patches 

To boost her confidence, Cat has been dieting and training for her first marathon 

But over the years, despite using steroid creams and going for LED treatment, the condition has spread and she now has rings around her eyes and white patches across her lower legs.

Cat also has blotches on her chest, hips, hands and back and when she gets one on her scalp the hair that grows out of it is also white – meaning the natural brunette is forced to often dye her hair.

Hiding her vitiligo while out and about meant Cat felt the need to ‘explain herself’ to partners when it came to getting more intimate, which she said has made for some awkward conversations.

Cat has lost 1st 11lbs since joining Slimming World and says that getting fit has also helped her feel more comfortable in her own skin 

Cat’s hair turning white where there is a patch of vitiligo on her skin 

White patches on Cat’s hips: The 24-year-old has recently learned to embrace her skin condition 

Cat said: ‘Because I would keep all my patches covered up when I was out, before taking things further with someone I was seeing I would have to have these awkward conversations. 

WHAT IS VITILIGO? 

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition – a type of disorder that develops when the body’s immune system attacks healthy cells.

According to charity The Vitiligo Society, around 50 per cent of people develop the condition before they turn 20 – although it can happen at any time.

It is the same condition the Michael Jackson was diagnosed with.

The condition became a headline topic again in the last few years after America’s Next Top Model handed the winning title to Winnie Harlow, a vitiligo sufferer who went on to star in a number of campaigns and Beyonce’s Lemonade video. 

‘When you look so different when you aren’t wearing anything, you feel like you have to explain yourself.

‘It was a pain but I’ve never had a negative reaction. Everyone has dealt with it really well.’

When she was first diagnosed with vitiligo Cat had never heard of the condition, which she said contributed to her feelings of insecurity and isolation.

But the once fairly unheard of complaint has been brought into the limelight recently by models like Winnie Harlow.

And Cat said knowing she was not alone helped her realise she doesn’t need to hide her skin – and she even braved strutting her stuff in a bikini on a holiday to Mexico in March this year.

Cat said: ‘I had never heard of vitiligo when I was diagnosed but over the years I’ve noticed more and more people with it like the model Winnie Harlow.

‘And there are so many people on social media who share photos and support each other. It is so important because people need that encouragement to believe in themselves.

‘It has made me realise that I shouldn’t have to change who I am to stop people shouting stuff at me. My vitiligo is a part of me so I’m not going to hide it.

‘When I went on holiday this year I knew people would stare at my patches while I was in a bikini but I was determined just to ignore them.

Cat wearing a bikini on holiday for the first time this year 

Cat pictured before she lost weight: She has slimmed down from a size 14 to a size 10 

‘It hasn’t been easy to get to this point – it’s taken me 10 years – but it’s likely it will spread and the patches I have will get bigger so I need to accept it. And I’m even learning to love it.’

In the last year Cat has also made an effort to eat healthily and get fit, starting Slimming World in October 2015.

Cat, who at her heaviest weighed 12st 5lbs, has gone from a size 14 to a svelte size 10, having shed 1st 11lbs – and is now even training for her first marathon.

And getting in shape has also been a big part of helping Cat to feel comfortable in her own skin.

Cat said: ‘Eating well and getting fitter has been a really good boost because I feel better in myself. I’ve done a couple of sprint triathlons and I’m training for my first marathon.

‘As well as feeling healthier it has really helped my confidence too because I’m happy with my body shape which make it easier to be happy with my skin.’