“The most annoying and depressing thing that people tell me is: ‘You got to get your skin treated. Something’s wrong.’ I mean, I see it everyday, I know something is wrong. People do not even care to listen to me. The first thing they notice are the marks on my face. Unlike regular acne, steroid withdrawal acne is a lot more severe and takes longer to heal. I was 19 when I was diagnosed with it. It was the result of a couple of steroid based creams that I had used. I went to a dermatologist but unfortunately, it didn’t work. I had to get back to traditional methods like neem leaves and aloe vera, which helped. It was a gradual process but it wasn’t easy to go through all of it. On many days, I would just go home and cry to my mother. I had suicidal thoughts. I wanted to run away and isolate myself from the world because I was tired of listening to people judge me for my appearance. That’s all they cared about. Most times, people don’t realise the affect their opinions and judgements have on a teenage girl. First, there’s this unnecessary beauty standard set by the society. They follow that up with unsolicited advice on how to maintain your skin. Luckily, I had supportive family and friends who loved me for who I truly was. I have undergone treatments and today, I’m more empowered than I ever was. That’s not because my acne has reduced but because I’m confident in my body and skin.”

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