Coronation Street and Strictly Come Dancing star Georgia May Foote has given an update on her health condition as she marked World Vitiligo Day earlier this week
Georgia played Katy Armstrong on Corrie(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street actress Georgia May Foote has courageously shared a challenging update with her fans regarding her ongoing health condition.
The 34-year-old star, known for her role as Katy Armstrong on Corrie and her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2015, has been candid about her struggle with the skin condition vitiligo, which she developed in 2020.
As per the NHS, vitiligo is a long-term condition characterised by pale white patches developing on the skin due to a lack of melanin, the skin pigment.
Earlier this week, in an effort to raise awareness, Georgia took to Instagram to share a series of photos showcasing the condition on her hands and arms.
She penned: “Happy World Vitiligo Day If you are new to my page or don’t already know, I developed vitiligo in 2020,” reports Leicestershire Live.
“This has been one of the craziest journeys I have ever had. I was misdiagnosed for a while before I begged to be seen by a dermatologist, which then took another year. I was then diagnosed with vitiligo.
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“Vitiligo is a skin condition where my immune systems attacks the melanocytes which produce the melanin in my skin. This causes white patches all over my body, which continue to spread daily. They become bigger and show up new places all the time!”
Georgia continued to reveal that it had been particularly “tough” recently as her vitiligo had spread onto her face.
“This year has been particularly tough as it has spread onto my face now. I have good days and bad days with the condition! Sometimes I’m really down about it and other days I feel very special.”
She expressed frustration over the lack of treatment options, noting: “Unfortunately there is no understanding why this happens. ( stress deffo doesn’t help in my case ) I have the very annoying side effect of itching! And until the uk pass the cream Opzelure there will be no way of bringing my pigment back!”
She added: “People who love me don’t give it a second glance. That’s all that matters it’s a hard thing to deal with, but I am a tough and I will not let it get to me. I have an amazing family and group of friends who mean the world to me. Happy world vitiligo day to my gang.”
Georgia was showered in support after her brave post(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Support poured in for Georgia, with fans and friends calling her “beautiful” and “gorge”, and Helen Flanagan commenting: “Beauty x.”
The star has faced numerous challenges recently, including undergoing surgery for endometriosis and coping with her business being destroyed by fire.
In a heartfelt message earlier this year, Georgia shared her empathy for others with vitiligo, stating: “My heart goes out to anyone who has this condition. Mine was brought on in 2020 I wonder why!”
She continued to share her personal struggle: “I just wanted to show the reality of it. Some days are so so hard and I get so angry about it. I will always try to be brave to show others with the condition that it’s ok. Sometimes it gets the best of me.
“We have got this. I pray one day we get the cream passed for use in this country.”
Georgia first appeared in Corrie in 2010, playing Katy Armstrong. Her character was killed off-screen in a car crash in 2017, after her exit from the show in 2015.
