How this Indian creator responded to bullies trolling her for having vitiligo

Aastha Shah, an Indian content creator and vitiligo self-advocate, is using her platform to address the bullying and ostracisation faced by individuals with vitiligo. 

Today, on World Vitiligo Day, she shared her experiences on her Instagram and emphasised the need for greater awareness and acceptance of this skin condition.

Responding to ableist trolls

In one of her recent social media posts, Aastha Shah addressed the daily trolling she endures because she looks different owing to her skin condition. 

Her message was both a celebration of her Vitiligo pride and a message to her trolls and bullies.

"Happy World Vitiligo Day Today we celebrate the uniqueness of our beautiful skin as an entire community. Vitiligo is beautiful in every way. This is just 1% of the people making fun of my family and me on a daily basis. The reason I am putting this out there is because vitiligo can affect people psychologically and the least the society can do is not troll us. For all the ones who have vitiligo, my message to you is that let the world put you down and make you feel different, just remember to thrash the stereotype and work towards your dreams because you’re unstoppable👩🏻‍🤝‍👨🏾," Shah shared.

Addressing misconceptions

Shah frequently encounters comments accusing her of seeking sympathy or playing the victim card. 

She uses these moments to educate others about Vitiligo.

“I get a lot of comments about gaining sympathy, playing the victim card, making vitiligo my personality and the fact that I could hide it from the world because I have vitiligo all over my body. First of all, I don’t want sympathy, I want to raise awareness about this skin condition because we have a lot of uneducated people in this world. Secondly, I proudly wear my skin, and thirdly, I want the world to know about it so that even if one person gets inspired, it will make me happy.”

The reality of living with vitiligo

Vitiligo, as Shah explains, is a skin condition caused by the loss of melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin colour. 

It begins with patches and can spread across the body. 

Shah has non-segmental vitiligo, which symmetrically appears on both sides of her body. Importantly, it does not affect any internal organs.

“Vitiligo is a skin condition which is caused when the melanocytes (cells which give colour to your skin) stop functioning. It appears in patches initially and can eventually spread throughout your body. I have non-segmental vitiligo which symmetrically appears on both sides of the body. It does not affect any organ internally. It’s an autoimmune skin condition and not a skin disease. There is no scientific cure for vitiligo. Now let me celebrate my day happily”

Providing support and encouragement

When she first shared her story online, Shah received numerous messages from other people with similar lived experiences who were in unsupportive environments. 

Many expressed feelings of depression and even had s*icidal thoughts because of their vitiligo. 

Aastha responded to them with compassion and support.

“Many parents abandon their children or try to cure their vitiligo using harmful methods. There is no scientifically proven cure for vitiligo. I was disheartened reading such messages and tried to help most of them by talking to them and supporting them.”

Myths and facts about vitiligo

Myth: Vitiligo is contagious.

Fact: Vitiligo is not contagious. It is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the pigment cells in the skin leading to the skin losing its colour.

Myth: Vitiligo only affects the skin.

Fact: While vitiligo primarily affects the skin, it can also impact hair and the inside of the mouth. It does not affect internal organs.

Myth: Vitiligo can be cured with certain treatments.

Fact: There is no scientifically proven cure for vitiligo. Treatments can help manage the condition but cannot completely cure it.

Aastha’s posts frequently attract numerous hurtful comments from trolls, revealing the cruelty and ableism that persist in society. 

This highlights the shallow nature of beauty norms and the deep-seated ableism, racism, and sexism prevalent among Indian trolls. 

It also underscores the dire need for improved health awareness in India.

Ableism, sexism, and harmful beauty norms perpetuate discrimination and exclusion in society. 

Ableism marginalises individuals with disabilities, denying them equal opportunities and respect.

Sexism enforces gender stereotypes, limiting people's potential based on their gender. 

Harmful beauty norms create unrealistic standards, fostering judgement and alienation for those who do not conform. 

Together, these attitudes contribute to a culture of intolerance and inequality.