Sintija Bāne opens up about living with vitiligo and celiac disease
On the show "Bez spriedzes," Sintija Bāne discusses living with two autoimmune conditions — vitiligo and celiac disease — and her journey toward self-acceptance. The first white patches appeared on her skin when she was just seven years old.
In a recent episode of the show "Bez spriedzes," Sintija Bāne speaks candidly about living with two autoimmune conditions that have shaped much of her life: vitiligo and celiac disease.
The first signs appeared when Sintija was only seven years old, as white patches began forming on her face — a hallmark of vitiligo, a condition that causes loss of skin pigmentation. Because of this visible change, she has repeatedly faced misunderstanding from people around her, who often asked whether she had gotten sunburned around her sunglasses, unaware that the pale patches were connected to a health condition rather than sun exposure.
A path toward acceptance
In the interview, Sintija admits that for years she feared society would never fully accept her as she is. Prejudice and the reactions of others to the visible changes on her skin affected her self-confidence and daily wellbeing.
Alongside vitiligo, Sintija has also been diagnosed with celiac disease, a second autoimmune condition in which her body cannot tolerate gluten, requiring strict dietary restrictions. Managing two chronic conditions at once has brought additional challenges, both practically and emotionally.
On the show, Sintija describes how, over time, she has managed to change her attitude toward herself and her body, learning to live openly with both visible and invisible health issues rather than hiding them. Her story fits into the format of "Bez spriedzes," where guests speak openly about personal struggles, including topics related to health and self-acceptance.
