There was a quote in that article: “When was the last time you saw someone with vitiligo handling your food? It is the public’s image that it is some leprosy-type of disease,” he says. “A lot of folks feel this disease has trapped them and kept them away from their life goals.” Oddly enough, I think the last time I saw someone with vitiligo (who I knew of) was behind the register at a restaurant in an airport. He looked like he was from southeast asia, and he had patches of white mixed in with the quite dark skin of his face.
My brother has vitiligo… and he’s considering bleaching to make his skin even. He has a hard time even getting the time of day from girls because, I think at least in part, the patches of white on his tan skin look weird. He’s got a few female friends, but he’s never had a girlfriend and it’s eating at his self esteem. I can only imagine what someone in the public eye would be going through.
Aw. If it would work well, I’d say he should go for it. Self-esteem is a precious commodity. (Yeah, I know, self-esteem should come from within, but let’s face it, appearance plays a large role for many of us.)
PapSett, that is quite fascinating.
He’s looking into it, but it’s not a cheap thing… and he’s in school. I’m hoping he’ll find a girl who isn’t shallow and can look past it. He deserves the best.