Thousands of people took to social media recently for World Vitiligo Day to showcase their skin and what makes them unique.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder where white patches of skin appear on different parts of the body. This happens when the immune system attacks the melanocyte cells that make pigment in the skin the causes are unclear and while its been documented for thousands of years, it can be the source of stigma and shame.

Vitiligo is present in 1% of general population and in Asian skin some studies have put it between 1.5%-2%, consultant dermatologist Dr Adil Sheraz, a spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation tells HuffPost UK pointing to a significant stigma around the condition in some Asian communities, where its often thought to be contagious and cause by poor dietary habits, he says.

This can have a knock-on impact for peoples mental health, with vitiligo associated with anxiety, depression and in rare cases, suicidal thoughts. It can result in a complete change in ones cultural identity both in how people see themselves and how society sees them, says Dr Sheraz.

Its in this context that a wave of young British Asians are using the power of social media to share their vitiligo stories, break down the shame attached to their condition and show the beauty of their skin.

Three people share their stories with HuffPost UK and the messages they want to send other people who live with the condition.

Vitiligo is a blessing not a curse

When Shankar Jalota developed vitiligo at the age of 15, he had no idea it was a skin condition. I noticed a tiny white patch on my chest and a white speck under my left eye, he recalls. Honestly, I thought I wasnt washing myself properly. I would scrub my body and face hard to try and get rid of it.

Even when the patches didnt go away, but started to get bigger and more noticeable, he thought it must be something to do with puberty.

It was his grandmother who made him go and get checked out. I was walking around my living room with no top on when my gran was over visiting us. She noticed it right away. I remember her face being worried, but I shunned it off as nothing. However, my gran told me: Go to the doctor as soon as possible! as if she had seen something like this before.