The Stigma of Vitiligo

Shaheen, 33
Although it is neither painful nor life-threatening, vitiligo — a skin condition in which there is a loss of pigment in irregular patches — can be an emotional burden to people who are afflicted in countries like India, where it contrasts sharply with the population's darker skin tones. Ignorance and inherited attitudes about other diseases like leprosy contribute to the stigmatization of people with vitiligo, particularly young women, who suffer from its effects.

• Giving Kolkata's Homeless Kids a Chance