Date: 01/27/2022

#homerowfiberco

I’m not writing this to summon sympathy or pity from strangers. I’m writing this because I often forget to extend empathy and gentleness to myself.

I do myself a disservice by not sharing my face here more often. I think most people assume that my skin disease only affects me seasonally or when I have flare-ups. The truth is there are no flare-ups and my skin isn’t just simply dry. My skin looks like this everyday when I wake up because I was born with a skin mutation. And if I decide not to bother with an hour-long shower and three full-body applications of various moisturizers — this is how I’ll look all day.

I was born with a severe case of #LamellarIchthyosis so this is how my skin looks even with daily treatment. My skin is significantly improved in appearance from when I was a kid, but functionally I am still a person with a disabling skin disease. I can’t sweat or regulate my body temperature efficiently. I have limited flexibility and range of motion unless I shower and apply barrier protection. My eyelids are permanently scarred from chronic dryness and I can’t close my eyes all the way when my skin is tight. My feet are cracked and bloody every day, I’m prone to heat stroke and infection …and so much more I’m not even thinking about because it’s just normal for me.

I’m not writing this to summon sympathy or pity from strangers. I’m writing this because I often forget to extend gentleness to myself.

Listen here kid, you’re doing a damn good job all things considered. What you accomplish today is enough. You’re more than enough. Maybe you needed this reminder, too? ??

#HomeRowFiberCo #IchthyosisAwareness #DisabledMakers #KnittersOfInstagram #RealMomentsNotReelMoments

Thanks Rochelle!