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Th e HEALTH | FEBRUARY, 2019
WOMEN
People have more
acceptance towards the
way I look now. And I
feel nothing but deep
gratitude towards them.”
Facts about Vitiligo
• One of two (1/2) people
with vitiligo gets it before the
age of 20, and one of three
(1/3) people with vitiligo has
family history of the condition
• Vitiligo is essentially
an autoimmune disease,
categorising it with diabetes
mellitus, thyroid disease,
pernicious anemia and
Addison’s disease – albeit
with lesser severity to health.
Beauty in her
Vitiligo is a rare skin disorder where only 0.5 to 2 percent of the world
population has it. Sonya is one of them, and this is the story of how she had
risen from a shy and self-conscious teen to a positive and confi dent woman
S
ONYA is 25 years old and working as a mar-
keting executive in Kuala Lumpur. From the
way she dresses to the way she speaks, you
would know that she has much confi dence
and respect for herself. She wasn’t always like
that however.
“I was around 8 years old when my family and I
started to notice a small discoloured spot on my face.
Th inking it was just ‘panau’ (common discolouration
caused by fungal infection), we didn’t give much
thought about it. But overtime, the discoloured spot
starts to spread everywhere. It was around my eyes,
ears, and arms,” says Sonya.
According to her, the sudden change in her look was
what made her felt insecure and self-conscious. It made
her shy away from socialising with her friends in school.
“I have been called many names, and the
insults often made me cry and feel demotivated to go to
school. I couldn’t stand any of it anymore at the time.”
She adds that she would always wear long sleeved
clothing to cover her arms and hands because she was
ashamed of her looks. She was afraid of what society
thought of her. Th e social stigma that haunted her.
Her quest for treatment
“I have tried many treatments, and had seen quite a
few dermatologists. One treatment was where I had
to undergo injections, but due to its steroid content,
we decided to stop the treatment. Th en at other times
I used to go for light therapy, where they would shine
UV ray onto the eff ected are of the skin. Th at treatment
had worsened my condition rather than improved. Now
I just take normal supplements such as vitamin C and
B-complex,” Sonya expresses.
•There are 5 types of
vitiligo: Generalised, Local,
Segmental, Acrofacial, and
Universal.
Diff erent outlook in life
Her life took a 180 degree turn when she had the
opportunity to study abroad in the United States in
fashion and business. “Th eir outlook about people like
me were far diff erent than here, I am seen as unique
rather than weird. And what makes it more welcoming
is the fact that I was treated normally, like a regular
human being. It was then when I found courage to
don more stylish clothing, ones which do not cover
my arms and made for the world to see. I appreciated
myself more.”
Modeling career
Sonya took what seems to be
her ‘sickness’ and made it her
identity and uniqueness.
Who would’ve thought that this once shunned indi-
vidual had a deep passion in modelling, and had even
graced numerous magazine pages because of her unique
beauty.
“My ability to become what I want to be is proof
that everyone has their own uniqueness, a uniqueness
that should be embraced. Sonya tells that despite her
initial self-doubt to pursue her passion in modelling,
she found courage and support from her family and
friends throughout. Her uniqueness has been embraced
by many now, a testament to her strong will and perse-
verance over the years.
“People have more acceptance towards the way I look
now. And I feel nothing but deep gratitude towards
them.”
Embrace your uniqueness
“To the people who are living with vitiligo like myself,
do not feel shy and self-conscious around people. We
are diff erent yes, but we are also unique. Learn to
embrace it and be proud.” — Th e Health