Gabby

My Experience With Vitiligo As A Teen So Far
By Gabby, age 14

I was in kindergarten when I was diagnosed with Vitiligo. It has been nine years since then. I went through many school experiences with Vitiligo. I would love to say that everyone in the world is nice and considerate, but that unfortunately is not true.
I have been stared at; curious people have approached me and asked me why my skin is different colors.

I have had people of all ages stare at me, and it is surprising to say that out of all ages, adults were the worst. At the time I was just a little kid, and didn’t know any better but to stare back. It really irritated me when that happened.

A lot of years have passed and I have learned that you have to be the “bigger person.” So now I just smile at them and sometimes wave, which is amusing because it makes that person turn around and feel embarrassed about what they did. It has never stopped me from doing all the activities that I enjoy, such as going to the beach, playing sports, and lots of other activities. I am Hispanic so my skin color was pretty dark, but now that I am older and the Vitiligo has spread, my body is about 90% white. The parts that are still tan are pretty much always covered by my clothes. In the summer, I am outside wearing shorts where my spots do show.

In all the years I have had Vitiligo, it has grown with me and made me a wiser person. Having Vitiligo has taught me not to judge other people by the way they look and dress. That is a great lesson to learn at such a young age. I cannot say that I don’t wish I never was diagnosed with Vitiligo, but I am glad I have it. I am in high school now, and I was worried about what the other kids would say or think. But everything turned out well, and everyone is great about my Vitiligo. My advice to other kids is to just be yourself, and don’t believe everything you see on the television. Not all kids are bullies and they do not always do cruel things.

Gabby