This is a review article written after watching the broadcast.
I Live Alone cast member Koo Sung-hwan opened up about his struggles with severe vitiligo.
On the Oct. 10 broadcast of MBC entertainment program "I Live Alone" (hereinafter "I Live Alone"), Koo Sung-hwan was shown visiting a hospital to receive treatment for "vitiligo."
Visiting the dermatology clinic that day, Koo Sung-hwan said, "I should have come earlier, but I kept putting it off and came to the hospital because of skin vitiligo. (The vitiligo) is getting wider and wider."
Earlier, he had confessed that he developed "vitiligo" after filming a movie abroad, and he had been diligent about self-care, carefully applying sunscreen before going out. Koo Sung-hwan explained, "The hospital told me to apply a lot of sunscreen, so if I don't do that I get nervous. I actually apply more. After going to the sea this summer, if you have vitiligo it doesn't tan there, so it looks worse."
Especially after revealing his face without makeup, Koo Sung-hwan said, "When people see me on the show they don't know. Makeup covers it. I'm not wearing it now, and you can see symptoms on my eyebrows, nose and mouth. They're increasing. It's not that I don't have eyebrows; they are depigmented and turned white," which surprised everyone.
Vitiligo turns not only the skin but also hair completely white. The members of the Rainbow group said, "It's serious," and Koo Sung-hwan said, "I had an exam in May, and the nurses and the deputy minister gathered to look at my condition. I'm very worried about it and wondered if it could improve, so I took a day off and came."
After the skin test, meeting the doctor, Koo Sung-hwan lamented, "The skin on my face becomes very dry where the vitiligo is." The doctor said, "Because of an immune response, pigment cells are destroyed and turn white. So the skin condition inevitably worsens."
Comparing photos from May and now, Koo Sung-hwan's pigmented areas had improved, but the vitiligo had spread. He said, "It was such a shock. I gained a lot of weight in three months and the skin spread as much as the areas that gained weight."
The doctor urged, "Actually, vitiligo is an intractable disease and cannot be cured. You must receive continuous treatment. Apply sunscreen well and remove it properly. Cleansing is also important. No matter how tired you are, you must always remove it. Moisturizing is the most important."
Afterward, Koo Sung-hwan began treatment that awakens the skin layers using radiofrequency. The pain coming through the anesthesia made him writhe. Koo Sung-hwan said, "Honestly, do I have to live like this? It's not right to call it incurable, but I think it's not easy to cure. The biggest thought is that I hope it's not noticeable. I try to keep a good mindset, but the stress is actually greater than I say."
After enduring silently for more than an hour, Koo Sung-hwan finished the procedure and moved to the care room to complete vitiligo treatment with a soothing pack and laser procedure.<
[Photo] "I Live Alone" broadcast screen capture
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