Vitiligo-Go

finding and embracing beauty For this blog, I  want to inspire beauty among everyone, especially among those with skin conditions. From previous experience, I’ve found a simple way to make myself feel more beautiful when I don’t feel comfortable in my own skin. Before I introduce this project, I’d like to make it clear that … Continue reading Beauty Project #1...

home experiments Throughout my entire life, I’ve personally made friends with four people with vitiligo. Four may not seem like very many to the average person; but to me, even seeing one other person with vitiligo sends a jolt of excitement and surprise through my stomach. It’s amazing that although vitiligo impacts around 1% of … Continue reading At-Home Treatments...

a new discovery While we did see minimal progress with the bagchi oil treatment, traveling between the US and India for long periods of time was hardly feasible. Thus, we sought out to create a light/UV apparatus at home to replace the bright India sun. My grandpa and dad located a rusted, over-sized light bulb … Continue reading Treatment #5 — Bellevue Lightbox...

music for coping Music has become to one of the most common and effective coping mechanisms for teens and adults. I’ve always loved listening to songs which I can relate to because it gives me a sense of community and reassures me that I’m not alone in my struggles and experiences. I’ve compiled an eclectic … Continue reading Feel Good Music...

unreasonable expectations In today’s society, women face unreasonable expectations to prioritize their physical appearance rather than their mental health and personality. No matter their age, girls often cover their blemishes and “imperfections” with makeup in order to fit in and gain a sort of societal acceptance. Granted, this “cosmetic camouflage,” as some have come to … Continue reading The Makeup Controversy...

a quick definition Hope /hōp/ Noun – a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. My own definition: the most powerful, yet wicked motivation. People have different perspectives on hope; some see it in a positive light and use it as comfort and coping mechanism, while others panic and impulsively eliminate … Continue reading Hope: a Blessing or a Curse?...

oil and the sun. With direction from friends and family, my parents found another doctor in Hyderabad, just an hour drive from my grandparent’s home in India. A few weeks later, my mom and I flew to India to stay with my grandparents for a week. My grandpa scheduled an appointment at the clinic and … Continue reading Treatment #4 — Bagchi Oil from Hyderbad...

  stigma in society Generally when you hear the word “disease”, you worry. People associate this term with illness, sickness, infections – the list is endless. So when I initially heard that vitiligo was a “disease”, I was confused. I thought to myself, it’s not a fatal condition, it doesn’t change my everyday life – … Continue reading Understanding Beauty in “Disease”...

  Haryana, india While I don’t remember too much from my childhood treatments, I do remember enjoying sugar pellets that were prescribed from my homeopathic doctor in Faridabad, Haryana, India. I loved eating those little pellets, and at this point, it was the only medicine I had taken which tasted good – given, I was … Continue reading Treatment #3 – Homeopathy from Faridabad...

UNani medicine After failing to track down a successful treatment locally, my mom reached out to Indian doctors to learn about other possible strategies and medicines. After validating the success of a government hospital in Telangana, India, my dad flew to the city of Hyderabad to meet with a team that practices Unani treatments. Unani … Continue reading Treatment #2 — Herbal Cures from India...

the first APPEARANCE overview: vitiligo in the world Vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that impacts over 1% of people across the world. Vitiligo can occur at any age and is not always genetic. While there is no dependable cure, many western treatments and doctors recommend light and laser therapy, as well as drugs that target … Continue reading Treatment #1 – The First Appearance...