The skin I’m in: Emirati woman shows the beautiful side of vitiligo
For Nadin Al Maskari, her skin is nature’s canvas to create beautiful works of art.
Ms Al Maskari’s hands, feet and thighs are covered by intricate and colourful patterns that she is happy to share with the world.
The 32-year-old Emirati’s flair for personal creativity was inspired by the skin condition, vitiligo, which she developed when she was 13.
Vitiligo causes the skin to lose its pigment, often resulting in discoloured patches on the body.
Ms Al Maskari likened them to a pattern and began to paint henna around them.
She posted the results on Instagram, where she has more than 1,400 followers.
Her artistry has resonated strongly and positively with people who share the condition.
“I want to show people that there is a beautiful side to vitiligo and to look at it from that angle and not as a stigma or a skin disease. There are far worse things in the world,” said Ms Al Maskari, who is from Abu Dhabi.
“We should not worry or think too much about what people think. We are the ones who have to live with it. If I can show it in a positive light then why not?”
For many around the world, vitiligo carries a social stigma and can lead to isolation, depression and a loss of selfesteem.
Dr Shubhada Bichu, a dermatologist at Burjeel Specialty Hospital, said that children with vitiligo can be singled out by bullies at school.
“Bullying does happen when it [vitiligo] starts in childhood. School-age children are picked on, ridiculed and shunned by their friends,” Dr Bichu said.
“For adults it is more of a social stigma. Patients will feel depressed, especially if it is on a visible area like the face and hands and feet,” she said.
“It doesn’t affect the health of the patient but it does affect the quality of life.”
The doctor said she sees one or two cases of vitiligo every month.
There is no cure for the disorder but therapies to even the skin tone are available.
It affects between 0.5 and 1 per cent of the world’s population.
Ms Al Maskari does not use make-up to cover her skin and decided against laser treatment after trying it several years ago.
She is aware that her appearance can lead to many questions, including how quickly the patches develop.
“It is sporadic, sometimes I get a new patch after three days and sometimes a couple of months or a year for one to develop,” she said.
Ms Al Maskari has never shied away from her condition and embraces who she is, although she does not like to call herself an inspiration.
By helping herself to feel good, she hopes other people will feel more comfortable in their skin, too. “I would like people to know that people who have vitiligo are beautiful as they are, and I invite them to ask questions,” said Ms Al Maskari. The majority of us welcome questions.
“I do not see myself as inspirational. I really do it because it makes me feel good and I feel that my skin looks pretty,” she said.