Need some support please

[Epoh]

Hi there is there anyone who is suffering with nelasma or anyone who can lend some support to me, really just a listening ear . I am really struggling

[Hidden]

Hi Epoh,

Welcome! Whether we have a fellow traveller or not with with Melasma, i don’t know.

But that doesnt mean youre not welcome, because you certainly are!

How people feel about different visible differences is often the same, whatever the condition.

So how about this? Pull up a pew and tell us whats on your mind. You never know who’s out there you thoughts will ping and echo from!

And if you ever just need to yell, let me know.

Hope for a speedy reply for you!!

[Chantev]

Hi Epoh I can understand how you feel about physical appearance. Don’t worry you are not alone we have all faced prejudice about how we look because we do not conform to peoplés expectations . I once was a beautiful woman, Bell’s palsy took it all away from me. I have had to show strength of character and face the world. There was a lot of rebuilding of self esteem and self love. I am not going to say it was easy for it was damn hard to face my demons of depression and self doubt. It has certainly been character building I can look anyone in the eye and if children stare I explain to them that I have been ill. Come on dust yourself up. Get a sharp hair cut deflect the attention from your face. Dress smartly and ALWAYS MAKE YOURSELF UP. Treat yourself to a nice lipstick and get ready to face the world and most of all learn to LOVE yourself like Miley Cyrus. Hope this encourages you not to give up hope beauty is in the eye of the beholder look at you in the mirror and SMILE. Best wishes Chantale

[RebeccaChangingFaces Partner]

Hi Epoh - a very warm welcome to you, thank you for finding your way to the Changing Faces community here.

There are members here with all different forms of visible difference, including posts from people with melasma - but as CB said above, it can be surprising how much people with a different type of condition can connect with you over shared thoughts or worries.

We have community ambassadors here who will aim to make you feel welcome, along with some staff members like me (we all have "ChangingFaces" in our user names). I hope you find this a helpful and safe place to hear from others and share your thoughts and feelings.

I'm also including a link to the melasma page on the Changing Faces website, just in case you haven't already seen it: changingfaces.org.uk/advice...

Take care, Rebecca - Changing Faces

[Solocat Community Ambassador]

Hi Epoh!

Let me join my friends CB, Rebecca and Chantev in welcoming you to our place. I never tire of saying this is the warmest place to be for people with visible differences. As we go through our personal struggles we embrace others going through it with a non-judgemental kind of support for each other.

These circumstances are not all bad. It makes us embrace difference...not only in appearance but differences in GENERAL (my capitalization, hehe) that may depart from the "norm", the "standard", as we go deeper in love and joy, knowing that looks, difference in preferences, appearance, etc., do not define people. To be honest, when people are confronted with differences this can bring out the best or the worst in them. In our case, total acceptance, which is very pretty!

I hope you can find good advice, support and confidence here. Please let me know how you're feeling...

Hope to hear from you soon !!!

[Jaycee2023]

Hi Epoh, I have had melasma since 2014. I get used to it and say to myself, this is fine, I’ll make the best of it. But every six months or so it spreads and gets worse and I have to keep adjusting and accepting more and more of it. It’s a struggle because I don’t know where it’s going to spread to next. It’s difficult to know whether to try a peel again. The laser made it worse. Some people’s melasma looks nice but mine has very strange lines on my forehead as well. Some days it doesn’t bother me, but other days I see my face and it’s a shock. I’ve made a conscious decision not to cover it with make-up but to face the world unapologetically as I am. I try to focus on gratitude: it’s not painful and for that I am truly grateful.