The Pressure of Toxic Beauty Standards | Chicago Med | MD TV 

I’ve had vitiligo since I was 3. It’s now spread to about 95% of my body which I’ve been told is very rare. Growing up was hard. People can be very cruel.

A professional dancer from my country once said "Being unique is more memorable than being perfect". Some of the wisest words I ever heard.

I'm saddened by the fact that vitiligo is seen as ugly. To anyone who has vitiligo, you're absolutely stunning. Nothing short of grand artwork. Your skin is a heavenly mix of gorgeous shades and hues, and I hope you will one day grow to see your skin as beautiful as the fates intended it.

The lessons to be learned are: Never self diagnose. Never care what people on Instagram say about you.

Honestly, my favorite part of this is the Mom being so accepting of the psychiatrist’s help.

This honestly breaks my heart since I currently have vitiligo and am very proud of my spots. The beauty standards truly are toxic. I wish every girl could feel like she could be herself.

When I was growing up, I always saw people with Vitiligo and thought that they were so cool. The spots can look incredible and make up some neat patterns. Turns out Vitiligo runs on my dads side, and I started to get spots a few years ago. I was worried people would look at me different and judge, but most are very supportive. I just embrace it now.

Dr. Charles is my favorite character on the show, he's the reason I continued watching :)

Why is everyone so afraid of vitiligo? I haven't met a single person that thinks it isn't beautiful.

I seen all the advisements. From hair, makeup, even body weight. I never cared to have social media platform or to look like a celebrity, I don't even try. Perfection is something no one can get. Everyone has flaws.

“you know who the unhappiest people in the world are? 15-year-old girls.” as a 15-yr-old girl myself i highly agree with dr charles. people, and even myself included, tell me “don’t listen to those toxic beauty standards!! you’re beautiful your own way!” but it’s really hard not to constantly compare yourself to other girls out there, who look so much better than me. if i could i’d desperately wish to be pretty and have a skinny curvy body. i relate to this girl so much. i take like 100 diff photos, delete the photos i don’t like, and sometimes, that either leaves me with 1 photo or none - cuz i hate the way i look in pictures - meanwhile my friends take beautiful photos and post them. i just don’t feel beautiful.

bro I'd give anything for someone like Dr. Charles to be my mentor I just love him

There’s no such thing as perfect. You can’t be what doesn’t exist.

Winnie Harlow has made a career as a model with vitiligo, I don't think anyone should see it as a bad thing. Having something like that, anything at all makes you unique and unique is art.

A few years ago I noticed these dark patches on my arms. They were symmetrical on both sides, and got darker as Summer came. It looked like splotches of dirt, but no matter how much I'd scrub at my arms with soap, and literally every sponge out there, they wouldn't come off. Eventually I went to a dermatologist who originally diagnosed me with ezema. That didn't seem right to me from what I knew about ezema, but I didn't question it. But when the treatment didn't work, and the spots didn't go away, we went back. Finally the dermatologist told me about Terra firma-forme dermatosis. She hadn't even know about it during my first visit, but she had been researching and eventually found it. I was given treatment, and it worked! My arms don't have black spots anymore, and my skin doesn't feel rough to the touch. I won't go into detail about how I was treated in school when this was going in. But I can tell you it wasn't pleasant.

I can't believe they decided the best message for this episode would be "She tried to kill herself because she thought she had vitiligo, but good thing she doesn't so we can just fix it eventually" Like wtf, if they were gonna have an episode on it, it would have been better to dismantle the stigma and horridness people experience. Could have had her have it and join a support group of other teen girls with skin disorders, and have it end with her trading numbers with a girl after they compliment each others jewelry or something, have her make a friend based on common interests, not appearances.

My grandmother had vitiligo. She was the most wonderful woman. It's because of her that I first started to think vitiligo is very beautiful.

That Dr is like “she’s got a long way to go” when he saw her taking selfies on the hospital bed 😂

Dr Charles glasses being on the edge of his nose got on my nerves lol.

Being 15 is truly a struggle

I’m raising two beautiful girls and I make sure that they understand everyone is beautiful in their own way and you’re never to tell another lady she’s ugly cause that hurts. My kids go around telling every women they see that she’s beautiful or gives them a compliment. It starts young to pass on the kindness and uplifting to each other 😊

i think vitiligo is fucking gorgeous. i don’t know what it is but it’s just so beautiful and unique

And that is why you consult a doctor before you buy the worst case scenario the internet rabbit hole is selling.

I love Dr Charles, he’s so down to earth

People can find peace when they learn to love themselves and what they were born with, imo

Vitiligo is so pretty, I don't understand why it's seen as ugly. I remember the first time I ever seen it, the left side of this girl's (in a commercial of some sort) face was black while the other was white she had one blue eye and one dark brown. Her arms and hands had patches as well, she was stunning. I'd never before seen someone so uniquely beautiful. I was very young at the time so I think seeing this girl set up a good view of vitiligo for me.

bro our world needs to change we need a change in society no one is expected to be "up to standards" in there beauty standards everyone is perfect. just the way they are..

Okay so I'm 6 minutes in and 3 things... 1. It's not vitiligo, it's tinea versicolor, which is a simple curable fungal infection. 2. That girl didn't try to kill herself because she felt bad about how horrible she was to other people, she just was afraid of it happening to her. 3. She learned nothing from this, she'll be back cyberbullying other girls with in a year.

Song lyrics/poem that I have written about perfection: She wants you to fix your hair She wants you to smile a certain away She wants you to speak up on her terms He wants you to wear a different dress , says that he’s still not impressed It seems like everyone knows who I should be or how I should act Do I want to change, or am I already shining as bright as a diamond Maybe you start questioning yourself But remember Everything they tell you is only their version of perfection Not yours… It isn’t yours Your personality is just as beautiful Your lens is just as clear Look through it and see that you’ve already created perfection You’ve already created perfection It seems like beauty is only measured in how you look And maybe that’s how you’re measuring your perfection too What if you tried another way? What if perfection came from your kindness? What if it came from how your love shines right through your eyes? What if it meant that you felt others emotions? And that you were brave, honest, and understanding too? Think of it like sunshine Are you going to darken your sky for every standard you think you don’t meet? Or are you going to create your own sunrise? Those colors are just as beautiful Your lens is just as clear Look through it and see that you’ve already created perfection. You’ve already created perfection. ❤

Am i weird for thinking people with vitiligo are BEAUTIFUL

I am so glad that I grew up before social media.

would’ve probably been a little more powerful if she did have the thing she was afraid she had, then they could show her overcome it not just avoid something that a lot of women do suffer with:/

I know growing up there was definitely a stigma with vitiligo. People were seen as unattractive or imperfect. But I’d say over the past couple of years that narrative has really turned around and thank goodness because it is very freeing to realize the beauty in peoples body as it naturally is. So I’m quite surprised a show as modern as this one didn’t want to at least add a line or two to show how off the young girl was for thinking she’d be ugly. She’s 15 and superficial, so I’m not surprised she didn’t see the beauty in vitiligo, but I’m very disappointed that none of the adults in the story had anything good to say about it either. Idk if dr Charles mention of the girls superficial mentality was meant to somewhat address that, but I doubt it.

I knew a kid in high school with vitiligo, I didnt know what it was, just figured he was born like that. I used to have the biggest crush on him lol

People with vitiligo are beautiful:(

I love Doctor Charles he always does his work so well to me and something about the way he works amazes me

why is dr sarah reese look so beaten down in future episodes she so full of life in this one. i don't like how they made her character so tragic.

my goodness, there are two people in my town with vitiligo and they are, without a doubt, two of the most beautfiul bloody people i have ever seen. the vitiligo makes them look like a work of art and that is no exaggeration. im not saying believe the words of a stranger on the internet, but folks with vitiligo - you are beyond beautiful.

I never thought i'll hear someone say a yeast infection is wonderful

I really don't want to post pictures of myself on Instagram because I feel ugly and I don't want to get bullied or hurt

I have had the same thing this patient has since I was in middle school and it really messed with my confidence. I just thought I was dirty up until this year when a dermatologist diagnosed me.

Vitiligo is like, really cool?? Like it’s all these awesome spots scattered on your skin like fireworks! I remember 12 year old me hearing about it for the first time and I remember thinking it was the most beautiful thing. It’s sad that people believe it isn’t

This is so sweet! I love this video!

That psych resident looks hotter than most Instagram models

I’ve had vitiligo all my life and am now in my 50s. I’m white and therefore the patches don’t show as much as they do on darker skin tones but it was still sometimes difficult at school. Recent models with vitiligo have really helped to make this condition to be accepted more. But children will always be cruel and find any ‘flaw’.

This was one of the reasons I stopped myself from going on social media.

there’s no way he can see out of those glasses lmao

I absolutely love what he said about souls!! So Very true!!!

It's hard being a teenage girl intodays society always getting judged for your body your looks. I'm 28 year old woman and I've always been insecure of my looms. I've gained weight and used to be skinny but when I was smaller I still thought I was fat. Ever since I was a small girl I looked at others and thought they were prettier than me even my older sisters hang in there girls u are loved by your families

Beauty standards are really stupid to me, you can do whatever to your body in the name of beauty, like boob jobs, nose jobs, plucking hairs off your face, and etc, but going too far can do a number on the mind and body. Like obsess over looking perfect, addiction to the medication, or obsess with surgery ( for real people CAN get addicted to surgery )

Just be safe out there.

Can I just say that in my opinion Vitiligo is one of the most fascinating and beautiful skin conditions I have ever seen ❤️ Also no. Never Google your symptoms.

I have always thought vitiligo was so beautiful! I used to have an elementary teacher with it and she was gorgeous! And about a few months ago (beginning of the year maybe) I started developing some patches on my arms and thighs. It’s a little scary at first for me since I wasn’t sure how people would treat me but now I am in love with how it looks. I feel like it makes me look even better!❤❤

I love Oliver!! He's one of the most under rated actors around!

Me: That vitiligo kinda looks like the thing I have. Tinea Versicolor Me: Oh…..

Awesome job thanks for sharing especially the part about the Soul 😇

Even if it was vitiligo, the fact that someone resorted to ending their life because of it needs serious help

I used to be embarrassed when i was a kid about vitiligo but as an adult dont even think about it being weird

"I don't know what to say, what to ask." I can't tell you how many times I tell people that my job is 90% bullshitting with people. You'd be surprised how much information you can gather from a simple conversation about anything else.

docter is doing good job

Vitiligo is gorgeous!! Rock that skin you're in!!

I’ve always seen vitiligo as beautiful. They put too much pressure on young girls to try and force them to grow up faster. It’s honestly sickening

Winnie Harlow is one of the world's most sought after models. She has vitiligo and is absolutely stunning.

It’s so sad the this is actually what’s happens nowadays

as a person who used to be a first responder, i see that ambu bag action as an absolute win! Look at it go! not even on the patient for part of that scene and were already less then 20 seconds in! XD great show but please its a minor detail that makes a big difference

Honestly, I think Vitiligo is beautiful. I understand to the person experiencing it, it could be distressing and I'm sorry I can't understand that personally. But gosh, I think people who have it look so ethereal and gorgeous.

This makes me very sad that conditions such as vitiligo is seen as ugly especially since I’ve always thought that it’s so pretty. To anyone with vitiligo, u are beautiful and don’t need to change yourself

This was difficult for me to watch because I know the right thing to do is feel empathy for her but as soon as I heard she was a bully to other girls is when I lost it. Let me explain: I survived severe bullying most of my early childhood. I tried committing suicide when I was under 11 years old and I started self harming when I was under 10 years old. It it’s not gotten much better since then for me. Countless treatments, doctors, medications, therapies, hospitalizations, suicide attempts. All because of girls like her in the video who bullied just cause they felt pathetic themselves. This is good for me to watch so I can feel challenged on my mostly black and white hatred against bullies. Still it’s hard to watch cause I it just makes me angry seeing other people in the comments and in the show pity her and want to help her when she herself could’ve cause unrelenting anguish to others. UGH I’m so divided on my feelings. 😞

They're only standards if you allow them to be standard. ❤️ Be good to yourself.

this is so sad. i love my beautiful friends w vitiligo.

It's the way Choi had his hands on that girl when the patient first came in no offense

my grandpa has vitiligo and I thought it was the coolest thing when I was younger

I have the same skin condition as the patient and it has definitely made me more self conscious and I hate my skin when it's cold! It can be very embarrassing and I understand her!

I had never posted a picture on any platform to be judged like this woman. I refuse to be judged by anyone but me.

This makes me so sad ☹️

This makes me sad

It's not vitiligo, it's tinea versicolor, which is a simple curable fungal infection.

I see people with vitiligo and think it's beautiful ❤️

The mentality that people have in regards to social media makes no sense

One of my close friends has vitiligo and she’s literally one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met!

My cousin has that I call them "Angels tattoos" ♥️

I think vitiligo is just another lovely skin hue. I don't know if it carries other side effects, but in itself, it's unique.

Vitiligo is beautiful. My gramps had it. It reminds me of him and he was beautiful :)

My dad has vitiligo. He didn't get it until he was older, and even then, he's white so it was never a "big thing" when it came to him being judged. I always thought it was really cool to have, and it sucks seeing people getting judged so harsh over something that can just... happen.

Something like this happened to me. I had bad chronic pain and my mum was dying. So I stole her meds and used mine to do something stupid! The result was me being in a coma. It’s better to be honest with the doctors and your choices. I was under so much pressure to be strong when she was dying. I felt awful and my condition made it worse and upset.I needed to be calm to stop the pain! It’s left me with damage to my liver and kidney and heart ! Don’t judge her, be hind and ask why in slowly done over time little chunks ! :) 😅 .

I agree with everyone who points out how beautiful vitiligo is! My father had something I can only think of as vitiligo in reverse, and was rather proud of it. He was 75% Irish, 25% Spanish, so basically white, but born with with large brown patches which grew as he got older and subtly changed their shapes. He showed them off, and to be fair, they did look rather fine ornamental features. Has anyone there seen or heard of this white and brown phenomenon?

I've seen people with vitiligo and anytime I see it I can't help but stare, not in disgust or anything of course, but just in amazement. It always looks so unique and cool and I can't help but admire they way it looks (I don't stare stare of course, just to the appropriate level lol), I met a man once who had it all the way up to his face and he always had a smile, he looked great!

“I’m a great believer in psychiatry” says the guy who treats every psych patient like they’re freaks

One of my good friends growing up and her mom have vitiligo, I think they’re both gorgeous, always have. Their spots are on their arms and hands, like I said beautiful.

My aunt has vitiligo, though I’ve only really seen them on her hands. I always thought they were beautiful paint splatters, now I know that genetics declared her hands to be works of art

Years ago I started a new job and one of coworker s has vitiligo which I admit I noticed right away. But knowing him now for many years..I see the person not the condition

Vitiligo IT is beautiful!!!💞

my son has a vitiligo patch around his eye its a birth mark he was born with i pray he never thinks hea ugly because of it because it makes him so unique ❤

My step-sis as it n I love her she's beauty on the inside and outside

My sisters friend has vitiligo and she is the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen dead honest she Is so pretty, it’s so awful that people shame upon people with it.

dr. charles may be fictional but he is my dream doctor truly

To me, vitiligo is one of the most beautiful body features that someone can have, even though she doesn’t have it she is still beautiful. Everyone is.

Ok....can we now see how dangerous self- diagnosis is?

I think people with this condition, are amazing and very attractive

I have vitiligo thanks to type 1 diabetes. The very, very few people who care about my spots aren't worth the time of day.