Behind her smile

Behind her smile

It was the stares, the questions, the judgement and everything in between that made her question her worth. She didn’t realize she had developed an attitude towards people. But who would have blamed her for that? After all, unless you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, you can never know where it hurts the most.

What started out as tiny harmless pimples while in campus back in 2013, later turned into a severe acne break out that affected Regina’s overall wellbeing. Her face was marred with what she described as ‘big pimples or bumps with puss.’ Her first instinct was to go a pharmaceutical chemist to get drugs. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get the help she wanted. She embarked on a tireless journey of going from one hospital to another in futility. She even went as far as Nakuru County but her efforts bore no fruits.

“I remember seeking treatment from different hospitals within Nairobi but couldn’t get help. One time I was advised to get pregnant as that would help balance my hormones. I wasn’t ready for this at that time. But when I finally got pregnant in 2020, my face seemed to get back to ‘normal.’ As soon as I stopped breastfeeding, the cycle of painful acne breakout started all over again. I was devastated. I gave up on hope of ever getting treatment. My self-esteem went down the drain. I didn’t want to be around people. My solace was in hiding behind my mask during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Regina’s skin condition had worsened. It was so bad that one day her daughter didn’t want to be near her because her mother’s face ‘scared’ her. The little girl couldn’t recognize her mother anymore. She looked different.

“That was my breaking point. I don’t remember sobbing like I did that day. My daughter was scared of how blemished my face was and didn’t want to be near me. My heart threatened to jump out of my chest because of the unbearable pain I felt. But for my daughter’s sake, I had to keep trying until I got a solution.”

In December 2021, Regina got a job at City Health Hospital (CHH). Little did she know that solution was closer to her than she thought. She was about to get her smile back. The dermatologist at CHH was able to accurately diagnose her condition and put her on medication.

“It is not easy to battle some skin conditions especially those that are visible to everyone. It calls for patience and perseverance. I am glad that months into starting the treatment, the difference is visible. Finally, my dimples are noticeable and my daughter is happy with the transformation. She now steals glances at me with a smile. CHH was my blessing in disguise.”

City Health Hospital endeavors to provide best medical services at reasonable cost. Our dermatology clinic is open every Wednesday to address all skin care conditions.