Bullying and skin diseases

Dermatological patients with visible skin diseases often face challenges which include being stared at by others, or getting unpleasant remarks about their symptoms.These experiences can be associated with two terms: stigmatization and bullying.Stigmatization has been examined more often in dermatology; bullying has been less researched in dermatological studies.Stigmatization may refer to experiencing the absence of friendly behaviour, receiving confused behaviour and staring, and encountering hostile behaviour. 1 Elements of these phenomena seem to overlap with factors of bullying.However, stigmatization has been investigated more extensively than bullying, as we can see in the literature.An analysis made in 2023 of a study conducted in 17 European countries showed that dermatology outpatients experienced significantly higher levels of perceived stigmatization than skin-healthy controls. 2Regarding this topic, we can find in-depth analyses, for example the book chapter titled Stigmatisation and skin conditions. 3ullying among youths can be defined as 'any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social or educational harm' 4 (p.7).Studying bullying among adults is also important. 5pecifically bullying can refer to many experiences, for example name-calling or taunts, 6 kicking, spitting, isolating the targeted person, damaging a personal property, spreading false and/or harmful rumours. 4Bullying involves intentional behaviour, repetition, violence or aggression, and power differential. 7ullying can happen at different areas: at school, at college, at home, in the workplace and in other institutions. 6ecently, the Internet has become an important medium