Student so desperate for a tan she ditched sunscreen. Now she’s left with painful skin condition that makes her cheeks bumpy and inflamed for a YEAR.
Shannon, 21, didn’t wear sunscreen during a vacation. She wanted a sun-kissed tan. Instead, her doctor says it triggered a life-long skin condition.
“When I cam back to London I noticed my skin was not the same,” she says. “I had red bumps and scaly skin. It didn’t get any better a year later.”
Dr. Sam Bunting diagnosed Shannon with rosacea, which is pronounced (roh-ZAY-sha). It’s a common but poorly understood disorder of the facial skin. It’s estimated that more than 16 million Americans have it.
Rosacea appears as redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead. It can come and go. It also can burn and sting.
The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but experts say it can be triggered by exposure to sunlight… like in Shannon’s case.
There is no cure for the condition, but the symptoms can be controlled. There is oral medication, skin creams and even light therapy for the most severe cases.
(sources: TLC, National Rosacea Society, Livestrong, Health News)
