As a woman with vitiligo, I share a patient’s journey navigating India’s rigid beauty standards. Vitiligo causes skin depigmentation, forming discoloured patches, yet society perceives it negatively despite scientific evidence proving it’s neither contagious nor a curse. My first bright spot appeared at 11; my mother’s concern mirrored my muse, Riya’s, diagnosed at the same age. School was harsh—peers mocked her. Many parents hide the condition, deepening a teenager’s insecurity. My photo essay captures fear, resilience, and self-acceptance in a young woman’s journey.
