Watch Mary, a health educator, open up about how she’s navigating her complex journey with vitiligo.

Music track throughout.

MARY: I didn’t think it was going to stop me from living my life.

SUPER: Deeper Reflections

MARY: I had fallen. I had a little spot on my knee. And, um, it never went away.

SUPER: My Life With Vitiligo

MARY: My mom was like, “Okay, maybe we should go check out a dermatologist,” and at that time they told us, “Hey, you have vitiligo.”

SUPER: Mary, 29

MARY: It was just a little tiny spot. Uh, and then, little by little throughout the years, it started spreading. 

I did get bullied. I was called, like, a dalmatian dog. And I love dalmatian dogs, but at the time it wasn’t, like, cute to hear, right? So, it’s not what you want to hear. 

I felt like I was a problem, right? Like I was a problem that needed to be solved. And so, um…sorry it’s just kind of—I think about it and I was like, I was so, so mean to myself I guess. 

I'm a very extroverted person, um, but I became introverted. I stopped going to the pool, the beach, beach parties with my friends, and then I started hiding my skin.

If I were talking to my younger self, I would tell them that you won't always look in the mirror and love what you see. 

It's okay not to be okay.

In school my friends would tell me, “Hey, like, you’re beautiful.” My support system was never lacking. 

Acceptance is a long journey. It’s not a one day to the next. And so, I think seeking out treatment can help me in that process. 

When I learned that vitiligo is an autoimmune disease and it goes more than skin deep, my perspective shifted. 

Because it changes the way you view treatments.

I've tried a bit of like light therapy. I’ve used some foam steroidal type ointments, um, on my legs and arms, so I’ve tried—I’ve tried many.

For those who want to love themself having vitiligo but also go through treatment, it’s okay. It’s a beautiful thing to want to love yourself.

I'm Mary, and I'm ready to take a deeper look at my vitiligo.

SUPER: Talk to your dermatologist about how vitiligo impacts your life. 

SUPER: Go Ahead. Look Deeper.

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