@amara_artspots Just resharing this look from last year #vitiligo ♬ open this wall – berlioz
Vitiligo affects less than 1% of the global population; but, in recent years, this rare skin condition has been increasingly embraced and represented in toys like Barbie dolls and LEGO figurines. One person celebrating her vitiligo is Amara Aleman, who transforms her skin into incredible body art.
Vitiligo happens when the skin doesn’t make enough melanin—the pigment that gives it color. This leads to white patches appearing where the pigment is missing. Aleman affectionately calls the lighter areas of her skin her “ArtSpots,” seeing them as the perfect canvas for all kinds of creative expression. She’s got a popular TikTok where she shows off her hand-painted looks, inspiring nearly 300,000 followers with the message that vitiligo isn’t just rare; it’s beautiful.
Aleman uses cream foundation and tattoo cover-up that match her darker skin tone, helping her designs blend in naturally. She turns her arms, face, and legs into detailed works of art that feel like a natural part of her skin. Sometimes, she goes even further by incorporating bold, vibrant body paint, making her designs truly stand out, like her recent collection inspired by the diverse spectrum of Pride flags.
Aleman wasn’t always so proud of her vitiligo, though. When she was first diagnosed in 2017, she didn’t know anyone else with the condition and even tried hiding her skin for a whole year. “I rarely left the house,” she recalls, “and when I did, I was covered up head to toe and either [wore] long clothing or camouflage and makeup.”
Once Aleman started embracing the unique patterns and shapes on her skin through art, her confidence grew, and friends and family began to respond with encouragement. “I’ve always been really creative, so the idea to create art with my skin kind of came naturally,” she says. “Once I saw the reception online and read the comments [about] how positively it was affecting those with the condition, the ideas really flourished.”
Now, Aleman shares her art to encourage others to embrace their own skin and to challenge conventional beauty standards. She’s even inspired others with vitiligo to turn their own skin into art.
Check out some of her body art below and find more inspiring videos by following Amara Aleman on TikTok.
Amara Aleman embraces vitiligo by transforming her own skin into a canvas for bold and creative expression.
@amara_artspots Ngl i was mezmerized af by the song while editing this #vitiligo #floraltatoo #bodypaint ♬ BAD AT LOVE – SYTAI
@amara_artspots This a reminder #vitiligo #skincare ♬ original sound – amara
@amara_artspots W the anxiety of my moms surgery this week i prob wont create any new looks this week, but i have so many ideas @Tyla #bodyart #vitiligo #artspots ♬ ART – Tyla
She shows how the skin condition isn't just rare; it's beautiful!
@amara_artspots @Krystal Wasike your turn beauty queen! #vitiligo #bodypainter ♬ nyc in 1940 – berlioz & Ted Jasper
@amara_artspots Me when someone asks what color I am…#vitiligo #beyonce #grammys ♬ COZY – Beyoncé
@amara_artspots Ignore my chewed up nails lol #creativemakeup #vitiligo #yinyang #coifishtattoo ♬ Genesis – Grimes
Aleman paints with cream foundation, tattoo cover-up, and vibrant body paint to transform her arms, face, and legs into works of art.
@amara_artspots Recreated one of my favorite #artspots looks using my perfect match from @coverfx ! This Total Cover Cream Foundation is buttery smooth and dries down to a skin-like finish – making my art and skin blend together seamlessly. #vitiligo #fullcoveragefoundation ♬ Tempest 3 / Beethoven , Piano(1093277) – Noi m knot
@amara_artspots The symbolism of butterflies means so much to me & my life ik its a super common tattoo theme but one day ill probably get one #vitiligo #butterflytattoo #artspots #bodyart ♬ Intro – Black Country, New Road
Amara Aleman: TikTok
Related Articles:
Woman With Vitiligo Transforms the Spots on Her Skin Into Colorful Works of Body Art
LEGO Introduces Minifigures With Diverse Set of Skin Tones, Including Vitiligo
Grandpa with Vitiligo Crochets Dolls with Same Skin Condition to Give Kids Self-Esteem
Barbie Introduces More Diverse Dolls to Show Beauty Comes in Many Forms
