• A woman divorced by her husband after developing a chronic skin disease
• Her story has drawn widespread sympathy on social media

A Chinese woman suffering from hair loss due to a chronic skin condition has garnered broad support online after her husband divorced her harshly.

Local media reported that the 36-year-old, living in Shangqiu, Henan province, said her husband had ignored her completely since she became ill two years ago.

The wife, surnamed Li, said she devoted herself to caring for the family and child, handling laundry, cooking, and other household duties. “I have never seen a man this cruel,” she added.

Li turned to the media because she felt despondent and often dazed due to her husband’s treatment.

Two years ago, a large patch of her hair turned white, and doctors diagnosed her with vitiligo, a chronic skin disease that causes loss of pigment in skin, hair, and mucous membranes.

Her appearance changed noticeably, and some children on the street mocked her.

Li explained that her husband never accompanied her to the hospital or asked about her condition, refusing to pay medical bills. “Since I got this disease, he never took me to parties or dinners with relatives or friends, saying my appearance would make him lose face,” she said.

The couple had been married for 16 years before he recently decided to divorce her, granting her custody of their child.

No information has been reported regarding the husband’s response.

Dr. Lu Manchun, a senior physician at Zhengzhou Hospital in Henan, said vitiligo can affect any part of the body, with a global prevalence of 0.5–2 percent.

He added that the noticeable pigment loss on Li’s head was initially mild but expanded rapidly due to anxiety, anger, and other negative emotions. A stable mood and positive mental state are effective treatments for the condition, he noted.

Li said she will let go of the past and actively cooperate with treatment, expressing hope for recovery soon.

Her story has drawn attention from social media users in China, with one commenting: “Take care of yourself. When no one else is there to rely on, you must rely on yourself.”