A WOMAN has told of how baring her face on social media has helped her accept her cystic acne. Throughout her teenage years, Karen, now 28, had clear skin. But then, in her early twenties, she was hit by an outbreak of cystic acne. In May 2021, she also developed rosacea, leaving her in so much pain that she would often wake up to a bloodied pillow, and found that even smiling hurt. Her confidence was so impacted that she would not even let her own family see her without makeup. Then one day, she was scrolling Instagram, when she came across the #acnepositivity community - thousands of people sharing unfiltered photos of their skin in a bid to normalise acne and fight back against stigma. Realising her own story could help others, she took the plunge and shared a barefaced selfie - the first thing she had posted on social media in five years. Now, she continues to share her story in the hope she can inspire others. She concluded: "Now, I look at my textured skin and I embrace it. I'm proud of my body and how hard it works daily."


Follow Karen: https://www.instagram.com/_amivida/