Nairobi Woman Shares Courageous Journey Of Battling Recurrent Acne: "Never Judge Faces"

• Most of those who have bumped into June Katei Reeves often conclude she is into heavy makeup for no reason
• What they do not know is that she has struggled with genetic acne since she was a teenager, which she has to manage with contraceptives
• The condition has seen her face judgement from the community, a struggle that often affects her self-esteem

June Katei Reeves has looked at her year as it ends and disclosed that both triumphs and tribulations marked it.

One that stood out for the mother of one is her struggle with acne vulgaris, shedding light on the challenges and strength discovered in the process.

Acne started in her teenage

In a post on her Facebook page, she narrated how acne vulgaris started when she was 14, coinciding with the onset of menses.

She tried everything bought over the counter for years, but nothing worked until she saw a dermatologist in 2020.

"A single visit to him would cost me KSh 14,000 a month which would include consultation and the meds," she wrote

Luckily for her, it coincided with the pandemic, so she worked from home, and her bills were low, making it financially feasible.

Acne returned in full force

By mid-2021, her face, upper body, chest, arms and back had cleared, and she could finally enjoy smooth, clear skin like everyone else.

After a while, the dermatologist advised her to wean off the meds, which went well until she got off her last one in late 2022.

In 2023, all the effects of the contraceptives wore off, but her joy was taken away when the acne returned in full force.

"I have never felt down; as usual, I started scratching. I started praying for it to go, but it didn't. Months passed by and it got worse," she added, sharing a photo she took in April when it started.

Struggled with self-esteem

June discloses she asked God so many questions and wondered whether to go back to the contraceptives or wait until menopause to stop taking them.

"My self-esteem was shattered. I would apply makeup to go to the shop. I never wanted to be invited for sleepovers, and I never took selfies without makeup," she continued.

She is back on the contraceptives, and her face is getting better, so much so that she can walk comfortably around without makeup.

As much as the acne is genetic, as her mother suffered the same fate, June says she is still trusting God for healing.

Used makeup to cover wounds

Having had firsthand experience, June advises people to be gentle when they make comments about people's bodies and faces.

The same goes for those who shame others for having excess weight, as one does not know what they are going through.

"Be merciful to others. The Bible says a silent person seems wiser than a person who keeps talking. Be wise and keep quiet. You don't know what people are going through," she posits.

June expressed gratitude to her friend, who nicknamed her Rolls Royce, a name that gave her the strength and courage to pull through her days when the acne was at its worst.

Lessons from daughter Elle

In an earlier interview with TUKO.co.ke, June admitted that she regretted letting her fear of loss make her control people around her.

The fear was so pronounced that it made her daughter afraid to open up when she lost something; in one instance, she chose to do it through a text message.

"Hi mum, please don't get mad at me but I left my sweater at school!" read a text from her daughter Elle.

She recalled several other instances in which the little girl hid things from her for fear of being scolded, making her realise she had been projecting the loss of her parents onto the innocent child.