Bullying can sometimes manifest through a single word, a glance, or repeated behaviors that cause a child to feel isolated. Especially when physical differences become a target for relentless teasing among children and adolescents, this can leave deep scars not only related to appearance but also to the child's self-confidence, sense of belonging, and self-perception.

In this article, we share the real-life experience of Pınar, a student in the first grade of high school, whose journey began with vitiligo and deepened with bullying. Pınar's story not only demonstrates how damaging bullying can be but also shows how acceptance, family support, friendship, and inner strength can be sources of healing.

Now, we leave you with Pınar's story, written in her own words:

Pınar's Story

An ordinary day, an ordinary morning…

As usual, I wake up early to go to school, trying to hide my feelings. My sadness, my disappointment, that quiet fatigue growing inside me…

I am Pınar. I live with vitiligo.

If you were to ask, "What is vitiligo?", it is the appearance of white patches on the skin due to a decrease or absence of color pigments in certain areas of the body. In other words, some parts of your body appear a different color than other areas. Although I have fair skin, as my vitiligo has increased, slight bronzing has occurred in the areas without vitiligo, making the difference more noticeable.

Now, let's go back to the time when I first noticed my vitiligo.

I was in the fourth grade of elementary school. I was aware of the few white spots on my hand, but I didn't pay much attention to them. They were so few that I thought they were scars from childhood. I didn'|

When we went to the doctor, they asked me to have a blood test. I had never had a blood test before. I was a little scared and a little excited. When we went to the blood drawing room, my mother explained to me what would happen. She reassured me by saying that it might hurt a little, but it would pass quickly.

They took my blood. So, I had given blood for the first time. Moreover, I didn't cry at all.

When we got the results and showed them to the doctor, the doctor said:

“This is vitiligo. There is no cure for it. You will have to live like this for the rest of your life.”

When we got home, we researched vitiligo. The things we learned at that time didn't upset me much because my spots were very few. They were almost invisible if you didn't look closely.

I wish it had stayed that way…

Over time, my vitiligo started to spread. It spread to my face, my hands, and my feet…

I was a child who talked to everyone in class, a friendly child, but over time, I started to become friendless simply because my vitiligo increased. I experienced so much bullying because of this disease... My heart was broken so many times... Even now, as I write these lines, my heart aches.

They called me "spotted."

They called me "dirty."

They said, "Go take a bath and clean your spots."

They called me "zebra."

And many other things I don't want to remember…

At that time, it was the time of Covid-19. I was very worn out with the fear that something would happen to my family and the sadness that I would be separated from my teacher. During this process, my vitiligo increased even more. It had almost spread to almost my entire body.

My father's pharmacist friend in Bursa said that it could be cured with a herbal treatment. At the beginning of the summer vacation, we went to Bursa. There, they talked to us about a method called "sun treatment."

The treatment was as follows: At the hottest time of the day, at 12:00, creams would be applied to my entire body, and I would stay in the sun for an hour.

We started the treatment. Actually, it wasn't staying in the sun that tired me so much, but the creams that were applied. Even if I wanted to take a bath and relax, I had to apply it again in the evening, so my comfort only lasted for a few hours. I applied this treatment for about a year.

When I entered the fifth grade, my vitiligo became even more prominent due to this treatment we applied. Moreover, I was going to start at a new school.

I thought to myself, "Maybe they won't bully me here. Maybe I'm going to have friends."

But unfortunately, that's not what happened.

They made fun of me again. I was bullied again. In the school corridors, in the canteen, in the classroom... It was as if everyone's gaze was on me. I had very few friends. Then they also distanced themselves.

After a while, we stopped the treatment. We left my illness to its own course.

Over time, I started to care less about what people said. The bullying also gradually decreased.

But I can say this: I was never ashamed of my vitiligo. I didn't fight it. I accepted it. Yes, I was a child living with vitiligo. It wasn'|'s something I could control. And I was still me with it.

During the summer break of the seventh grade, my mother said one day:

"Let's try our luck again. Maybe there has been some progress in medicine."

So, she took me to the doctor again. This time, we went to the Kocaeli City Hospital.

When I entered the doctor's office, I could guess what he would say:

"There is no cure, it will stay like this."

But it wasn't like that.

The doctor said, "There is a treatment called radiation therapy. If you want, we can start it."

When I heard that sentence, my heart, which usually doesn't show itself much, started beating wildly.

The doctor explained the treatment. You enter a booth and receive a special radiation that is free from the harmful effects of sunlight for a few minutes. We started the treatment that day.

For the first three months, I went to the hospital three times a week, for the second three months, twice a week, and for the last three months, once a week.

After nine months, not all of my vitiligo was gone, but it had decreased. I am grateful for that. At least the spots on my face had largely disappeared.

I am currently in high school, and so far, I haven't experienced any bullying in high school. It makes me very happy that people understand that it's not something to make fun of.

I am proud of myself. Because I went through such a process with great patience. I struggled, I was sad, I was hurt, but I still didn't give up on myself.

I would like to thank my family, my cousins, and my friends Sevde, Zehra, Ceylin, Ecrin, and many other friends whose names I cannot mention here, for never leaving me alone during this process.

I'|'m glad they exist.


I love them very much.

Pınar, March 2026 

A Brief Conclusion from Pınar's Story 

This story reminds us that a child's body, appearance, voice, weight, illness, clothing, or any difference should not be the subject of ridicule. Every child needs to be seen, accepted, and grow in a safe social environment.

Peer bullying is not something that can be dismissed by simply saying "these things happen between children." Bullying can affect a child's self-esteem, sense of belonging to school, friendships, and emotional resilience.

Pınar's story shows us both the damaging effects of bullying and the healing power of acceptance, family support, and healthy friendships.

Note: The medical processes mentioned in this article describe a personal experience. For diagnosis and treatment, be sure to seek support from relevant healthcare professionals.