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Hello ,
The plan was to wrap up World Vitiligo Day 2026. Instead, we seem to have started something much bigger. |
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July 17, 2026
World Vitiligo Day refused to end
From a barely controlled landing in Chandigarh to a new chapter in Goa, the movement has officially outgrown its own day. |
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From Yan’s Desk
Better than expected
People keep asking how World Vitiligo Day 2026 went.
My short answer is: "Better than expected." Not because the plan worked.
Mostly because we stopped pretending there was one.
Two keynote speakers never received their visas to India. Four others got theirs just hours before takeoff. We ran out of exhibition space, so we doubled it with an air-conditioned pavilion built outside while temperatures hovered around 40°C (104°F). Equipment arrived late. The schedule kept evolving.
And then TikTok — after generating 54 million views for the #WorldVitiligoDay hashtag exactly one year ago — locked our account "under review" for the entire event.
Oddly enough, by the end, it all felt exactly as it should have.
🙏 With gratitude
My deepest thanks to Professor Davinder Parsad, Honorary President of World Vitiligo Day 2026, whose calm leadership, trust, and unwavering support helped us navigate every unexpected turn.
None of this would have been possible without our collaborators — IADVL, PGIMER Chandigarh, SHWETA and Vitiligo Foundation of India.
Thank you as well to our major sponsors — Incyte, Eris Oaknet Healthcare, AbbVie, VTS Life Sciences, and Zanderm — whose support helped make WVD HQ 2026 possible.
When the dust settled, something became obvious: World Vitiligo Day has quietly outgrown its own day.
Weeks after June 25, educational meetings, patient gatherings, and awareness campaigns were still appearing around the world. One of the latest officially endorsed events was organized by the Congolese Vitiligo Association on July 8 in Goma – bringing 220 patients together and calling for better care in the middle of an ongoing humanitarian crisis.
And we are not done yet 👇 |
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Coming Soon · Goa 🇮🇳
From science to life
World Vitiligo Day continues in beautiful Goa, India on October 31 – November 1, 2026 with The Human Side of Vitiligo.
We will step beyond the science to explore the interactive Patient Journey, unveil the National Vitiligo Atlas of India, introduce the Global Vitiligo Observatory, and announce the host city for World Vitiligo Day 2027.
Pre-registration is open. We would love to see you there.
Pre-register for Goa →
Read the full story: From Science to Life → |
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Inside this issue
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WVD HQ 2026
Chandigarh: Better Than the Plan
The best part was not the numbers, which were through the roof. It was the conversations — honest debates about various treatments, practical discussions about real-life challenges, and patients reminding physicians why they chose this profession in the first place.
It felt less like a conference and more like a community building something together.
Our full World Vitiligo Day 2026 Report is in the works. Until then, here is a glimpse behind the curtain while the engine was still hot and slightly smoking.
Read the Chandigarh recap → |
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Art & Identity
Science explains. Art makes us look again.
Congratulations to the winners of the WVD 2026 International Art Competition:
| Traditional |
Stephen Pius Timeless Elegance |
| AI-driven |
Dr. Wina Ermawati The Butterfly Between Us |
| Children’s book |
Dr. Noufal Raboobee The Patches That Made Me Shine |
And thank you to every artist who shared their work. Every submission added another voice to the global conversation.
Meet the winners and see their work → |
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Living History
Keeping our history alive
Movements become stronger when they remember where they came from.
A special thank you to Dr. Maya Tulpule, whose thoughtful insights and clarifications helped us expand the early history of World Vitiligo Day, particularly its roots in India.
This remains a living document. If you were there in the early days and have photographs, memories, or corrections, we would love to hear from you.
Explore the Living History of WVD → |
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Recognition
Celebrating Professor Valarie Molyneaux
Congratulations to Valarie Molyneaux, Founder and President of VITFriends, on receiving the honorary academic title of Professor Honoris Causa in Health Education and Patient Advocacy.
The honorary title was conferred by Professor Torello Lotti, Rector Magnificus of the Prisco Sapientia Institute in Zurich and Academician of the Italian Republic, in recognition of more than two decades of extraordinary service to the global vitiligo community.
Congratulations, Professor Valarie — and thank you for your unwavering dedication.
Celebrate with Valarie → |
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Perspective
Science First. Humility Always.
From Karma to Bakuchi may be one of the most personal pieces I have written in a while.
Every year we hear from independent investigators, clinicians, and patients who believe they have found something worth exploring. Most of those ideas will never fit a structured pharmaceutical pipeline. Some will turn out to be just wrong.
That is fine. But after years in this field, I have developed a strong allergy to convenient and safe, yet false choices.
Evidence remains our compass. Curiosity keeps us moving.
The mistake is not insisting on evidence. The mistake is dismissing interesting observations before they have had a chance to become evidence.
Read From Karma to Bakuchi → |
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Everyday Triggers?
Could your deodorant be part of the story?
Sometimes research starts with a simple question: could something as ordinary as an antiperspirant influence vitiligo in susceptible individuals?
We do not have a definitive answer. We do have enough evidence to justify asking the question.
Our latest article looks at what we know, what we do not, and where future research might lead. The accompanying Deep Dive in Vitiligo podcast takes the conversation further.
Read & listen → |
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Your Voice NEEDED
A vitiligo survey that wants your story
Before we wrap up, one more invitation.
If you have not already, please consider participating in the Brox.ai Vitiligo Survey. Every meaningful improvement in patient care starts with listening to patients.
Whether you have lived with vitiligo for thirty days or years, your experience can help researchers understand the patient journey and improve future care.
Share your story →
One last thought...
I have always been more comfortable behind the scenes than in the spotlight. So receiving this year's Incyte Vitiligo Innovator Award felt a little surreal.
If it recognizes anything, I hope it is not one person. It is the remarkable vitiligo community, partners and colleagues who quietly keep pushing this field forward every day.
Thank you for letting me be part of that journey. See you in Goa soon.
— Yan Valle
CEO, Vitiligo Research Foundation
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