Out & About
Welcome to the Out and About section of iFace. Here you can find out what other young people with disfigurement are getting up to!
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Hot on heels of the Changing Faces 'Face Equality' poster campaign is a children’s
documentary!
Lucas, Max, Lauren and Harry, who appear on the new Face Equality posters are now appearing in a documentary, which is one of a strand, called "My Life". You can watch it on iplayer:
Let us know what you think. There is information about the campaign and
documentary on the main website www.changingfaces.org.uk
Note: Unfortunately, Changing Faces is currently unable to continue to
provide its discussion forums. We are looking into alternatives to put
in place as quickly as possible.
In the meantime, why not check out discussion forums on Facebook?
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Going swimming
When I was about 12 years old I was swimming with a few friends,
attempting to dive into the deep end, but failing miserably. I got out
and kept trying, when I was standing on the side practicing my dives I
turned around and saw about 4 teenagers laughing at me. I've been
swimming hardly ever since then.
I have a birthmark on the back on my leg and I've hated it ever since I was old enough to know what it was.
I've been in and out of consultation rooms deciding whether or not to have surgery, which will leave me with a scar.
I was referred to people but was never completely happy with what they
told me. So I decided not to have surgery and went to the 'Nhs
Camoflauge' people instead. They had creams which completely matched
the colour of my skin and when I put it on it looked like I had no
discolourment at all.
Nearly four years on from the insecure 12 year old I once was, the past
few months I've been having counselling sessions with this amazing
woman.
She makes me feel so good about myself, and every other week when I see her she sets me challenges, such as;
Ask my close friends what they thought of my birthmark the 1st and 2nd time they saw it
Walk around the house with the camoflauge cream on and see how I feel, etc.
Last week I built up the courage to go swimming. I was a bit nervous at
first but when I was in the pool and getting out I just thought of all
the things my councellor had taught me, and why would I even care what
other people thought? I was Sarah, and thats all I could of been, with
or without a birthmark.
Sarah, aged 15
6 comments
28th Feb 08 @ 18:34
emily aged 12
6th Mar 08 @ 21:05
because people just think
'oh my god...what she doing in this swimming pool?!'
- nice people, aren't they?!
I prefer going swimming in a non-public one!
8th Mar 08 @ 20:39
you could always say to them - at least i look good in a bikini! :)
9th Oct 08 @ 22:16
7th Mar 09 @ 09:32
your a real inspiration to people who struggle with this :)
19th May 09 @ 13:51
So i don't go swimming anymore. I've been given some make-up from the NHS but i don't think that it covers it up enough, and i can still see it. It's not actually a birthmark, its a low flow vascular malformation right buccal space, oropharynx and nasopharynx, but if anybody ever asks i just say its a birthmark.I hate it,but have been put on the waiting list for an operation. There is only a 50% chance that it will work though. I just want it gone.
But i think that you just shouldn't care what other people think, and should have confidence in yourself (:
