Did you know that human beings can be rude with their eyes as much as with their words?

I have had this situation many times, when I saw prejudice and contempt in people eyes, and it made me feel horrible.

You must be thinking why? So let me tell you why. I have been dealing with a skin condition called Vitiligo. It’s an auto-immune disease which causes skin to lose its pigment, melanin. White patches start developing throughout the body. And the way people looked at me used to make me feel small.

At one time, I was waiting in a queue at a temple, and there was a lady with a young child in her hands. I tried to play with the child, as we were waiting, but the lady seeing my white patches, just moved the child and gave it to someone ahead. She had disgust in her eyes, which made me really feel bad.

Another time, I was giving a class in a college, and a young boy came to me after the class and to my surprise, instead of asking about the topic I taught, he asked me about Vitiligo and how to deal with the stigma around it. That made me think that there are many people who are struggling with it.

For me, it started about 14 years ago, and since then, I have tried a lot of medicines, alternate therapies and what not, to “cure” it, however it has only gotten worse. And with this condition, the prejudice and contempt have also gotten bigger.

I have seen many people struggling with social stigma and various kinds of body shaming, and I want to help them come out of this. “TheVitiman” has a few tricks up his sleeve to help you.

Smile and Be Humorous – Try to develop a witty response to negative comments and stares. A good laugh can dispel negativity. For example, I always say, “It’s an exotic white Tattoo that I have gotten.”

Educate and Spread Awareness – It’s not necessary that everyone know about your condition. Try and spread awareness about it around you, so that people can understand.

Confidence and Self Love – Be confident in your own skin and embrace who you are. When you exude self-confidence, people are less likely to make hurtful comments at you.

Advocate Yourself – It’s important to stand up for oneself. If you face any discrimination or negativity, always stand up for yourself and calmly express your opinion, it can sometimes change people’s attitudes.