When Li Jiahao first noticed a small white patch on her forehead a decade ago, she had no idea it would become the inspiration for her future creative work.
Now a 24-year-old animator and visual artist based in Beijing, Li has transformed her personal journey with vitiligo into an award-winning animated documentary titled “Colourful White.”
Graduating from the University of the Arts London in 2024 with a master’s degree in Character Animation, Li’s graduation project delved into the challenges of living with vitiligo through the stories of four diverse individuals.
The 4.5-minute film resonated with audiences and critics alike, earning her team two awards, a nomination at the British Short Film Awards, and selections at festivals including the London International Animation Festival and HiShorts! International Short Film Festival.
“For a creator, being able to resonate with someone or help more people understand this condition is immensely fulfilling,” Li said. “My teammates and I poured a lot of effort into this, and we wanted the work to be seen and recognized by more people.”
“People often fear and reject things that are different or unfamiliar to them,” she added. “I hope people can treat vitiligo patients as normal individuals.”
Vitiligo is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks and destroys melanocytes—the cells responsible for producing melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. This results in white patches on the skin, often appearing symmetrically on the face, hands, elbows, or knees. It can also cause premature whitening of hair.
While the condition is not contagious or life-threatening, it can cause significant emotional distress due to visible changes, leading to anxiety or depression among patients.
“During the one to two years after diagnosis, I sought medical treatment every week so that the white patch wouldn’t get any larger,” Li said, emphasizing the importance of early management.
She advises fellow patients to focus on maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and minimizing psychological stress.
Globally, vitiligo affects approximately 0.5 to 2 percent of the population. In 2021, there were about 22.83 million vitiligo patients in the Chinese mainland, with the prevalence gradually increasing in recent years.
Vitiligo is challenging to treat due to its unclear causes and targets. Early treatment focuses on halting progression by suppressing abnormal immunity and stimulating melanocyte function with phototherapy to boost melanin production. In later stages, surgical melanocyte transplantation may be required.
Recent advancements in treatment include the approval of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, which target the immune system’s overactivity against pigment cells. Additionally, a novel approach from a Chinese company targets the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) in the skin, aiming to regulate inflammation and protect pigment cells.
This potential treatment is currently entering final-stage trials in the Chinese mainland, offering hope for more effective management of vitiligo in the future.
For Li, sharing her story and creative work is a step towards greater understanding and acceptance of vitiligo. “I hope that through my film, more people will see the beauty in diversity and embrace those who are different,” she said.
