WashijaNot Into Looks
Vitiligo affects both male and female species in animals. It is more noticeable in animals with darker fur. It usually starts at their paws, face or legs but can spread over time just like in Elli’s case. But animals don’t care about how they look and maybe seeing this refreshing change in Elli is what people were inspired by.
Vitiligo Affecting Humans
Unlike animals, humans tend to care about how they look. So there are creams that can be purchased and applied to even out the skin tone. Living in a society that is obsessed with looks and materialistic things, it can be quite a challenge to live with vitiligo. People are insecure about how they look and hide behind makeup.
Ignorant Remarks
The famous artist, Michael Jackson, spoke about having Vitiligo. This disease was so unheard of at that time that some people did not believe him and claimed he is just bleaching his skin to become white. But the singer’s autopsy confirmed that he had vitiligo. It was one of the things that made him turn to plastic surgeries.
Raising Awareness
When Michael Jackson spoke about his condition that was the first time this disease was spoken about on a large scale. It raised a lot of awareness in the community. Fans argued with skeptics who claimed he is bleaching his skin that he has patches of white skin which is the pattern of vitiligo not bleaching.
Body Positivity
One of the consequences of having vitiligo is that it can affect one’s mental health and self-esteem. Ignorant people may mistreat those who are living with this condition. People can get bullied and treated as untouchables. This kind of experience can cause serious distress. There are some treatments that people can take to even out their skin tone but there is no way to stop it from spreading or reoccurring.
It Takes Time
Self-love is a journey that doesn’t happen overnight. It is a process that happens a little every day over a continuous period. There have been several body positivity movements to support people with vitiligo and spread awareness among people. Spreading awareness can help others cope with the emotional toll this condition brings.