Page 36 - Cosmopolitan - UK (April 2020)

m ove health

Life in would work, and it gave

me an increased risk
my appointments were
of skin cancer. The

quite disruptive too –
twice a week for a year
– but I wanted to try
it. Three months in, I
body... began to get my natural

skin colour back, and
after a year, I finished
the treatment. I still had
vitiligo, but I was now
30% affected, rather
than 75%.
That was seven years
ago, and although the
with vitiligo patches are starting to

return I won’t go back
to treatment. A few
years ago I was invited
Natalie Ambersley, 37, an executive on a TV show to talk

assistant from London, talks about living about my condition. At
with the skin-pigmentation condition first I was adamant that
I couldn’t do it, but
eventually I came round
to the idea and that was
hen going on, but my only person in a turning point. After
I was parents were worried the world with the programme aired,

w three, I and tried to find this condition. people started to send
developed a small white treatment for me. I was When we had me supportive messages
patch on the back of in and out of hospital swimming and I had the realisation
my hand. Back then, a lot – it became like lessons at that it was OK.
vitiligo (a condition a second home. By the school, I’d Appearing Now, I feel liberated.
where pigment is lost time I was 12, I’d been forge letters on Victoria I look down at my
from the skin) wasn’t through so many rounds from my mum Derbyshire’s legs and think I’d be
TV Show
well known, so when my of tablets, creams and so I didn’t have horrified if I woke up
parents took me to the homeopathy that I felt to go. On and my vitiligo wasn’t
doctor, they were just like a guinea pig. I told holiday with friends in again. I’d heard of there; it would be like
told to keep an eye my parents I wanted Spain, I’d be boiling in something called UVB I had erased something
on it. By the time I was to stop, and they were thick tights and a blazer. narrowband therapy, that made me who I am. @BEING_JUST_US
five, and had my vitiligo so supportive. If someone stared at where you stand in a I’m proud to have a skin
diagnosed, 75% of my In my teenage years, me, I’d immediately booth emitting UVB light condition I now love. INSTAGRAM
body was covered in though, I grew more cover up more. to try to help your skin For support, contact
white patches. I was too uncomfortable. It When I turned 30 I repigment. There was The Vitiligo Society;
young to know what was seemed like I was the decided to try treatment only a 50-50 chance it Vitiligosociety.org PHOTOGRAPHS

1 Put yourself first 2 Use social media 3 Talk to others
WHAT I was so busy worrying about Seeing yourself represented There were times when I had
HELPS what people thought that I missed helps to remind you you’re not alone, questions and I would DM people on AS TOLD TO DANIELLA SCOTT.
out on a lot. But I was the only one
and that you’re part of something
NATALIE suffering, and once I realised that, positive. I like @livingdappled and Instagram for guidance. Connecting
with others who understood how
I started living my life. @vitiligo_and_me on Instagram. I felt made such a huge difference.

36 · COSMOPOLITAN