Woman Bullied & Called 'Dalmatian' Because Of Her Birthmarks Refuses Surgery

Aug 16, 2023 by apost team

A woman whose nevus covered 80% of her body suffered bullying as a child. She also had to undergo multiple surgeries. However, a 28-year-old woman has chosen to find her voice as an adult amid all she went through. In a video posted on YouTube on the Truly channel on May 11, 2020, the woman, Beatriz Pugliese, shared how she overcame bullying with her family's help and gained confidence. She also shared how she found love.

When Pugliese was born, her mom said she knew something was wrong from the doctor's expression and the pediatrician's manner. Her little girl's torso and parts of her legs were covered in huge birthmarks. She started undergoing surgeries when she was just six months old and has had well over 30 surgeries taking skin from her calves to cover the spotted areas. However, more birthmarks appeared all over Pugliese's body as she grew older, with black spots all over her face and soles. 

"The doctors who took my case together with my parents thought it best that parts of my birthmark were removed, because they were very large and the exposure to the sun is very dangerous," Pugliese explained. "They gave priority to the areas of greater risk like my arms and legs."

Pugliese faced bullying in school. She recounted in a YouTube video that a boy came to her and told her she looked like a monkey. The 28-year-old shared that the experience left her shocked. 

"Some children did say really horrible things, they told me I looked like a monkey and used to give me dirty looks," she told Daily Mail. "Some would call me Dalmatian because of how my birthmark is, and then they would all laugh at me."

Nevertheless, her school experience wasn't always negative, as she had great friends.

"I had good friends at school, they never let me think anything was wrong with me," Pugliese recalled. "I tried not to let it bother me, but I did sometimes get upset."

Meanwhile, despite her birthmarks, the lab assistant wants to work with monkeys.

"Nature fascinates me, all its details are so incredible that I could spend hours in a forest just enjoying it all," she told Daily Mail.

Although the surgeries were not merely for cosmetic reasons, as she was highly prone to skin cancer, Pugliese decided against further surgeries so she could start living like others. 

"They had to come to an end. I couldn't handle them any longer," she said in the video posted on the Truly YouTube channel on May 11, 2020. 

"The recovery lasted two-to-three months, where I would be kept in bed as it was too painful to walk," she told Metro.

Her family also supported her as they didn't treat her differently from their other kids. Pugliese mentioned that her mom allowed her to wear whatever she wanted and didn't hide her. 

"The doctor told me that if I tried to hide her, things would be more problematic," her mom explained. 

Medline Plus defines Giant congenital melanocytic nevus as "a skin condition characterized by an abnormally dark, noncancerous skin patch (nevus) composed of pigment-producing cells called melanocytes." The condition often presents from birth or becomes noticeable shortly after the child is born. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, it is a rare condition with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 to 500,000 live births. The nevus (plural, nevi) usually grows larger and distributes along the body as the individual ages.

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People living with congenital melanocytic nevus are often prone to itching and dryness of the affected parts. They are also more likely to develop skin cancer, particularly the aggressive type known as melanoma. Since the nevi can also grow in the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, it is very dangerous when individuals with the condition develop melanoma. Since the condition also causes anxiety and social problems, children with it are prone to developing behavioral and emotional problems, according to the medical outlet. Giant congenital melanocytic nevus is generally not hereditary and can only develop after a fetus' conception. 

Despite her skin condition, Pugliese found love and is happily married to her husband, Fellipe Koroboff, who she met at a World Cup match when Brazil hosted the tournament in 2014. She called out to someone else, and Koroboff turned instead. The two then had a lengthy conversation which led to them dating and getting married. 

"I think the birthmarks make her especially beautiful," Koroboff said in the clip. "I even tell her that if it weren't for the birthmarks, i wouldn't even have looked at her or even be attracted to her," the cook said and added that he has some marks that are his favorites, including the one on her forehead that he called "Birthmark of the Queen."

Pugliese is, however, grateful for her spots now. 

"I am sure that I would not be the person I am today if I had normal skin," she said in the clip.

She also helps other people with the same condition to build their confidence and love themselves the way they are.

What do you think of Beatriz Pugliese's marks? Does her story inspire you? Let us know — and be sure to pass this on to friends and family.