tamar braxton

There is a laundry list of celebrities in the spotlight who have been accused of bleaching — Beyonce, Dawn Richards and India.Arie to name a recent few — but they rarely offer an explanation for it beyond aggressive lighting. Tamar Braxton, the latest to find herself the subject of bleaching rumors, attributes changes in her complexion to the skin disease, vitiligo.

The star of “Braxton Family Values,” explained to Ebony Magazine that she’s suffered from the condition since she was a child and it worsened since she became pregnant. She also elucidates the effect it’s had on her self esteem:

Anybody with skin issues knows that that’s a very sensitive subject. And that’s why I’ve never shared that I have Vitiligo, because I do. I’ve always had it, since I was a young girl. It’s not as bad as others because everybody has it differently, but I’ve certainly had mine diagnosed. That’s why I tan. People say, “You bleach your skin!” But I tan just so I can have a better tone on my skin, boo!

It’s gotten worse since I’ve gotten pregnant. If you shake my hand now, to me it’s more noticeable. But when you get diagnosed with a skin disorder, it’s hard. It does weigh on your self-esteem. It really does. But I’m done defending that. I’m not bleaching my skin and if I was bleaching my skin and I felt like saying so, I would, but for the record, I am not.

Though Tamar shouldn’t have to defend or explain herself, we applaud her for shedding light on her skin disorder and the emotional impact it has on her. Speaking out may free and comfort others who are struggling with vitiligo.

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5 Comments

  1. ugh rolls eye’s walk’s away from computer enough said

  2. Bleaching is a side affect of using skin bleaching cream!

  3. Give me a break! I am so sick and tired of these folk lying about bleaching their skin. Vitiligo is a side affect of using skin bleaching creams. Evidence of having it is evidence that you are bleaching! Hydroquinone, the chemical in most of the strongest creams cause this condition and underlying complications as well. Once the depigmentation starts, which is usually irreversible, people start receiving inductions of complete depigmentation of severely affected vitiligo because they can not repigment. Who are you doing to blame when you are diagnosed with cancer? Wake Up!

  4. I’m not saying her “less aggressive” story can’t be true. But Tamar, you show WAY too much skin to make this believable. Not to mention her sudden super paleness on the TV show. Her fingers look like they have dark spots… not white ones.

  5. Usually, people don’t like their skin tone because they have self-image issues. It’s best to deal with the emotions than the external appearance. I think once they can accept themselves, they wont get so obsessed with trying to lighten their skin

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