A pregnant woman whose face was dramatically altered by acne says the outpouring of support from strangers has brought her to tears.
The 28-year-old, known only as Farah, lives in the city of Shah Alam in Selangor province, Malaysia, and is currently eight months pregnant.
Her face began breaking out in spots around two months into her pregnancy, at a time when she was unaware she was expecting.
Malaysian woman called Farah poses in undated photo before experiencing changes. She suffers from facial acne during pregnancy. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@ayyitslala/Newsflash/NX)
Farah said she tried various skincare products to tackle the pimples, but nothing worked.
She said it was not until she missed her period and went for a check-up that she learned she was pregnant.
As the pregnancy progressed, the acne worsened, causing her skin to become red and swollen and her facial features to change significantly.
Malaysian woman called Farah poses in undated photo before experiencing changes. She suffers from facial acne during pregnancy. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@ayyitslala/Newsflash/NX)
Farah said her face looked completely different and sometimes felt itchy.
She said her smile lines deepened and her nose appeared more bloated.
Farah confessed: "Looking in the mirror, it felt like I was seeing someone else."
She added that she became deeply insecure about her appearance.
But she said her husband constantly reassured her that the changes were temporary and told her she was still beautiful to him.
Malaysian woman called Farah poses in undated photo before experiencing changes. She suffers from facial acne during pregnancy. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (@ayyitslala/Newsflash/NX)
Farah said she had been inspired to share her story publicly on the platform X, where it has been viewed over 19 million times.
She said she did it to raise awareness and to offer support to others who may be facing similar pregnancy-related challenges.
She said one comfort was that she had not suffered from morning sickness at all.
Farah said she saw the skin condition as a test from God.
She said she was moved to tears after reading comments from strangers online who offered encouragement and prayed for her and her baby.
She revealed: "Many gave words of encouragement and even prayed for me and the baby.
"When I read them, I cried, even though we don't even know each other."
She said other mothers had replied to her post with details of their own struggles during pregnancy.
One woman said she suffered with cysts, darkened skin and severe acne that only cleared up after childbirth.
Another described vomiting blood daily, while some said they experienced cold-like symptoms.
Farah said she wanted people to remember that not every pregnancy is the same and that it is not always an easy experience.
She said: "If you have nothing kind to say, please don't reply. Please have empathy. I just want to vent."
(MJ Leidig/newsX)