I’ve had keloids on my shoulders, arms and chest since I was twelve. Back then, I remember feeling so unattractive, embarrassed and nervous about my appearance. My scars would throb and itch so much. I used to hide under baggy clothes, side-stepped dating and avoided swimming for twenty years!
From surgery to injections, I tried any treatment I could get my hands on. But my keloids always came back, bigger than before.
When I turned thirty, I decided to change my mindset and not let my keloids rule my life anymore. Curiously, as I’ve grown older, my scars have naturally flattened and faded.
Last year, my ten-year old son got his first keloid from a bike accident. My heart sank, knowing he might go through what I did. I’m also worried for my young daughter too.
I joined the Scar Free team because I believe we’re backing the right research to find new and better ways to treat scars. It’s just a matter of money and time. The more we raise and invest in research, the quicker we'll get there.
Dr Lubna Arif-Schmidt, Head of Development