Katie Piper on her skin journey: 'My scars are a reminder that I'm alive and beautiful'
24.07.2022 - 10:39
/ ok.co.uk
In 2008, Katie Piper suffered life-changing injuries to her skin when she was burned in an attack with sulphuric acid. In the years since, the mum-of-two has had hundreds of procedures, set up her own foundation to support others living with burns and scars and their families, and become an advocate for self-confidence and positivity. Now she is an ambassador for skincare brand La Roche-Posay.
Katie says “My skin journey so far has been a long one. For anyone affected by burns or scars, it never really ends – you’re on that journey for the rest of your life. Initially you have life-saving acute care, but once you’re through that survival stage, you’re almost starting again, getting to know your new face, body and identity.That’s a very difficult journey.
A big part of my treatment was the psychology of touch and reconnecting with my face. We touch our faces every day and know what they feel like with our eyes shut, but at 24 I touched mine and it was brand new. I thought, 'What’s this? I don’t know her.' Not knowing yourself is a really confusing place to be.
Initially I felt ashamed of my appearance; I felt trapped in a shell that didn’t represent who I’d been up to that point. But now I can be seen all glammed up, or on the school run with no make-up, and feel the same. I can celebrate all of me and enjoy it.
Respect your skin I still have treatments and therapies ahead of me. When you have functional problems like I do with my eye, my stomach and my oesophagus, the surgeries will continue – I had an operation on my eye quite recently. With the skin, it’s about respect.
The website popstar.one is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can
send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.