Black woman, 43, with vitiligo claims her skin condition has partially reversed after two strokes

A Texas woman with vitiligo claims that two strokes caused her skin to change color and return to its normal color.

Iomikoe Johnson, 43, was diagnosed with vitiligo at the age of 25, an autoimmune disease that causes the skin to lose its color in patches.

Ms. Johnson, who is black, estimates that about 60 percent of her body has turned white as a result of her condition.

But after having two strokes, she began to see her vitiligo symptoms begin to disappear — which she believes may be related to the medication she was prescribed after the stroke.

Ms. Johnson’s vitiligo started under her eye and on her arm. Over the years, it spread to about 60 percent of her body

Ms Johnson began taking seven different medications after her strokes to prevent future strokes, which she says caused changes in her skin color

Vitiligo is a chronic condition that occurs when the skin cells that produce pigment are destroyed, turning a person’s skin a milky white color.

There is currently no cure for the condition, although certain treatments can help restore lost skin color.

The skin usually first begins to change color around the hands, face, genitals, or areas around body openings, such as the mouth.

People with vitiligo may also notice that the hair on their scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows, or beard turns white or gray prematurely.

The condition can affect people of all skin types, but is usually most noticeable in people with black or brown skin.

Experts estimate that 2.8 million Americans have vitiligo and that the condition affects 70 million people around the world.

Mrs Johnson said: ‘One day I woke up and I had a spot under my eye and a spot under my arm. I went to my GP, who referred me to a dermatologist, and after that visit I was diagnosed with vitiligo.”

Her condition continued to worsen, causing white spots to appear across her body and one morning in 2020 she woke up with slurred speech and blurred vision.

She said: ‘I told my husband I wasn’t feeling well and I think I needed to go to hospital.

“They found out I was having a stroke.”

Three years later, she suffered another stroke that caused her to collapse while walking.

Ms. Johnson has started modeling since she was diagnosed with vitiligo. ‘I absolutely love my skin condition. “I am beautiful and unique in my own way, and I really don’t care what people think,” she said

‘This meant I could no longer walk, I couldn’t talk and I lost all my motor skills. I also had to undergo physiotherapy to regain my strength and functions,” she said.

‘I had six weeks of physiotherapy.’

Tests revealed that Ms Johnson suffers from a blood clotting disorder, which causes clots to form easily throughout the body. This can increase the risk of stroke, which occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked.

Ms Johnson claims that since her strokes, some of her pigmentation – the amount of melanin in the skin, which determines its color – has returned to what it looked like before her vitiligo started.

“Some of my pigmentation has returned,” she said. ‘I was shocked when I saw the repigmentation on my nose.’

Ms. Johnson noted that most of the changes she has seen are in her nose and forehead.

She thinks the combination of seven medications she takes to reduce her risk of stroke could have led to the repigmentation.

This often includes antiplatelet medications such as aspirin, which prevent platelets (the part of the blood that helps it clot) from clumping together and forming clots. Anticoagulants are also a common choice to reduce the risk of clots.

Researchers have suggested that some medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to prevent malaria, and antipsychotics, can lead to skin discoloration.

“If all my pigmentation came back it wouldn’t bother me, but I’ve lived with vitiligo for over 20 years and it would be confusing for my family,” Ms Johnson said. Mrs. Johnson is pictured on the left before the diagnosis and on the right after

It’s unclear whether Ms. Johnson’s skin will be closer to the skin she had before her vitiligo diagnosis (left), but she has said she will be comfortable in her own skin regardless.

However, discoloration from medications such as blood thinners may be due to bruising, the British Heart Foundation suggests.

However, a stroke itself can lead to changes in skin color.

The American Stroke Association states that about 30 to 40 percent of stroke survivors suffer from complications, including pain in the head, muscles, joints, shoulders and nerves.

A sign of pain after a stroke, the agency said, is changes in skin color, along with numbness, tingling, burning, pain and decreased range of motion.

This can also lead to changes in skin texture.

“Over time, an inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients can cause the skin in the affected limb to change texture,” states the American Stroke Association.

‘In some cases it becomes shiny and thin, in others thick and flaky. Avoiding contact or washing sore skin contributes to this buildup.’

Ms. Johnson isn’t sure if her skin will continue to change color if she continues to take medications to prevent stroke. However, she has started modeling and is feeling comfortable in her own skin.

“If all my pigmentation came back it wouldn’t bother me, but I’ve been living with vitiligo for over 20 years and it would be confusing for my family,” she said.

“But as I am, anyway. I’m still beautiful, so it doesn’t bother me.’

‘I absolutely love my skin condition. I’m beautiful and unique in my own way, and I really don’t care what people think.’

“I own who I am and live my way.”