Inspiration for People with Vitiligo.

“Never judge a book by its cover.”

Perhaps this quote has garnered so much citation, whenever people talk about how the outer appearance does not necessarily sum up a person’s entire being. While I embrace this belief and try my very best to get past aesthetics, some people find it difficult to come to terms with the idea that true beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  In fact, at one point in our lives, we all are probably guilty of a struggle such that judgment stems from the moment we look in the mirror and cast the first stone of dislike towards ourselves.

I remember a friend of mine who had her fair share of depression and I have seen her go through such struggle as she coped with a skin condition that controlled her— every waking day of her life.

What started out as small, white skin patches, when she was a teenager, gradually grew and spread from her face, down to her arms, legs, and toes.  When she consulted a dermatologist, the diagnosis confirmed the news that would change her life forever: she was suffering from a skin disease called vitiligo.

Having learned about her plight, I slowly came to understand how she became aloof and self-conscious.  Despite the disease being non-contagious and painless, I saw the difference it has made in terms of her self-esteem. It was no longer a case that involved her skin cells and their inability to provide the brown pigmentation needed to fill her complexion because the disease took not only her melanin pigments but her confidence as well.

In the present-day where the world is run by social media giants and life is chronicled in photos that attempt to depict reality and daily-living, I feel my friend’s hesitation to reveal the extent of her condition. After all, it seems easier to hide in the dark than to face society under a scrutinizing spotlight.

I may not be directly afflicted with vitiligo, but I am no stranger to the pressure of having to measure up with the society’s seemingly impossible standards of beauty and aesthetics. On days when I give in to self-pity and gloom, I remind myself to always look for a silver lining.

Barriers eventually break

The stigma that surrounds vitiligo can be as varied and widespread as the disease itself. Comments and glances can range from sheer astonishment to looks of judgment and disdain. While it is tempting, however, to cave in to societal standards of physical attributes, we should know better than to give in to the status quo.

The scientific community remains in search of several breakthroughs that aid in vitiligo treatment (surgical procedures now exist to transfer skin cells that can help produce melanin in the affected areas).  I came across some published journals that underscore the emotional damage that vitiligo can cause its patients and urge healthcare professionals for timely medical interventions. I believe, the same field which identified and labeled the disease is fighting alongside patients to help improve their quality of life. If science can break through skin layers, human empathy and compassion from the same scientific minds can also help melt myths and reverse perceptions that have been conjured.

Every mold is unique

Before Chantelle Brown-Young flaunted her white patches as she dressed for the runway, she started as a child who had to walk across school aisles and endure taunting from her peers. Lee Thomas, on the other hand, is an award-winning news anchor of Fox Detroit who had to cover his skin condition so as to prevent on-screen distraction of television viewers. This four-time Emmy Award winner may have concealed his vitiligo on-screen, but he has always been open and kept a positive outlook despite the disease he has been battling. And of course, there is Michael Jackson whose popularity has helped shed some spotlight towards this chronic skin condition.

Aside from having uneven skin tone and garnering massive stares whenever they are in public, I noticed how their condition has never boxed them in one place or field. We may initially see the white patches, but we are aware that these people have become more than just victims of a socially-paralyzing disease.

One battle at a time

Vitiligo starts from a cellular level within human bodies and I believe it is only apt to start fighting it from within. Beginning with self-acceptance, I saw how my friend slowly felt empowered and less-chained to this otherwise debilitating disease.  Bit by bit, her walls fell down and she allowed herself to cling to the support from her family and friends. Having gained courage, I witnessed how she sought others who have the same condition and marveled at their determination to disseminate information in the hopes of raising awareness and gaining support.

By: Rana Tarakji is an entrepreneur and a contributing writer at One SEO, a digital marketing company in Lebanon, Beirut. Rana is passionate about digital marketing, startups, helping entrepreneurs grow, and empowering them to live their dreams. She has worked as a marketer, a technology co-founder and business developer, and a writer.

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