Woman develops incurable skin condition after New Year's Eve kiss
When Aimee Godden kissed someone on New Year’s Eve, it triggered an incurable skin condition that ended up changing her life.
Godden was diagnosed with a mild case of psoriasis when she was 14, an autoimmune condition that causes the skin to go red and inflamed.
But as a teenager, the condition wasn’t too noticeable, and she was able to cover the inflammation with clothes or a small amount of makeup.
But fast forward to 2018, Godden made the mistake of kissing someone who, unknown to her, had tonsillitis.
That was when she started developing large patches of dry skin on her forehead, cheeks and chest.
“A doctor diagnosed me with guttate psoriasis and said tonsillitis had triggered it,” she explained.
“I was devastated to be told there was no cure and terrified I would look like this forever.
“My face was completely different to the one I’d known my whole life.”
It took such a huge toll on her life, that she moved back home and refused to leave or even look at herself in the mirror.
But in the age of social media, Godden decided to speak up about her condition on Instagram, and that was when things took a dramatic turn.
After she posted a photo of her condition, it didn’t take long for it to gain traction with the response she received being overwhelmingly positive.
“In public, people have pointed at my face and said ‘urgh’, but online I’ve had such a positive response,” she said.
“You expect acceptance and support from friends and family. And when it comes from strangers, it feels so genuine.”
Now, she has learnt to accept her skin condition, even though there are times where she feels discomfort and pain.
Psoriasis can be itchy and may give off a burning sensation.
She manages the condition by living healthily and undergoing light therapy treatment.
The first night she went out after developing the condition, she says she felt very self conscious - until a man walked over and asked if he could buy her a drink.
They are now expecting their first child in October.
“I’d worried psoriasis would stop me finding love,” she said.
“But I feel so much love in my life right now.”
Godden is now a passionate advocate of loving the skin you’re in.
“Whether it’s a scar, spots, pigmentation, a birthmark, hair loss, or skin condition ... We are often told that we need filters, makeup, good lighting and a perfect complexion to look ‘good’,” she wrote in an Instagram post in May, announcing a “Face Equality” selfie challenge.
“We are all constantly exposed to the idea that our perceived value is dictated by our appearance.
“This week we come together to challenge stigma, to refuse to be othered, and to campaign for a world that no longer reduces our value to our appearance.”