Yes, definitely! You would find a life-partner based on your personality traits, educational background and financial health.

Why would this question come in your mind at all?

Certainly, the society’s negative perception about vitiligo (leucoderma) has made you raise this question.

In the recent years, the awareness and acceptance level has improved considerably and people with vitiligo do not face any unnecessary challenges in education or career prospects. The teachers, fellow classmates, colleagues in the office- they all understand the non-communicable and non-harmful nature of vitiligo and don’t hesitate to mix-up with people with vitiligo.

As far as marriage is concerned, the mental blocks prevalent in the society still poses significant problems to the people with vitiligo in marriage prospects. All the bright features of the personality and professional competencies are often overlooked and the prospective bride or groom with vitiligo is rejected.  Multiple rejections in marriage proposals, delay in marriage, taunts and negative comments from relatives and neighbors- all these circumstances can gradually force a person to make unwanted, significant compromises when choosing a life-partner. Having made all these sacrifices, the trauma can continue even after the marriage if the spouse (and respective in-laws) are not mature enough to understand the unpredictable nature of vitiligo. For instance, the pressure of adjusting to married life can bring a lot of stress and anxiety which can trigger spreading of vitiligo. If the family is not supportive, then it will add more fuel to the troubles and can even result in marriage failure.

Anticipating all these future troubles, many of the people with vitiligo almost give up on the thought of getting married.

We plead with you never turn away from marriage; marriage is one of the best thing that happens to a person. You would get life-long love, emotional support and physical intimacy from your life-partner. Research shows that married people live a healthier and happier life than those who choose to remain single. When you are dealing with a lifelong skin condition as vitiligo, it becomes even more important to have a strong emotional support in the form of a loving life-partner who would be proud to have you and would hold your hand firm through all the ups and downs of the life.

Getting ready for Marriage – Love yourself, improve yourself

Before planning to enter into a matrimonial alliance, firstly make sure that you have accepted your skin condition wholeheartedly and you are at peace with it. Living with vitiligo, you must have understood that vitiligo is quite an ‘innocent’ and medically non-harmful skin condition that it’s not going to pass onto your life-partner or affect your marital life in any negative manner. Moreover, it affects around 1% of the world’s population, it means more than a few millions of people worldwide have the same skin challenge as yours. It should increase your confidence further that you are not an ‘alien’. Once you embrace your skin condition as a ‘normal’ thing and rise above it to focus on your personality enhancement and career goals, you would notice the visible signs of positive changes in your life. It would not be too far when a mature, caring and compassionate person would enter your life as your soulmate.

Accept yourself, respect yourself and stay away negative people. If you wish your life-partner to love you, start loving yourself first.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune health issue so as vitiligo. Type 1 diabetes doesn’t have a cure so as vitiligo. Type 1 diabetes does have a genetic component and may pass onto future generation so as Vitiligo. So, if people with diabetes don’t feel shame or guilt, then why would people with vitiligo? Just because diabetes is skin-deep whereas vitiligo white spots are right there for everyone to notice. Ins’t it?

It means that the psychological impact of vitilgo is the real deal and you can get over it with self acceptance, self love and self confidence. The support of family, friends and positive people around can’t be undermined.

Looking for a lifepartner with similar life experiences?

To have a peaceful life based on mutual respect and care, many of the prospective bride and grooms with vitiligo these days prefer to marry someone with similar life experiences, that is, having vitiligo or similar skin challenge. It gives a feeling of comfort and boosts self confidence that your partner is not going to judge you for your skin and will understand your challenges and emotions in a better way. If this idea attracts you also, then try DermaMatrimony.com. It is an matrimonial matchmaking website for people with vitiligo, psoriasis, and other chronic skin conditions.

P.S. If you are worried about the hereditary nature of vitiligo, then please be informed that it has a fairly weak genetic component- in 15-25% only, it may affect a person if parents, siblings or any of the close relatives have vitiligo. It means, in 75-85% cases, it doesn’t pass from parents to the kids. So, just don’t bother about it, you have already spent enough of your life worrying about vitiligo- enjoy your life to the fullest and embrace it with open arms. There is no substitute to a loving life partner’s warmth.