Your blood is too sweet.

I was nearly ten years old when I first heard the word photodermatitis. The word was scary, foreign, and it alienated me from the rest of the world. I felt bombarded by ‘perfect’ images of the female figure on TV, by peoples’ staring and even by my family’s judgement.

Before the diagnosis my mother heard many speculations about the cause of my disorder - those reasons varied from the hypothesis that she didn't received enough sun while she was pregnant with me or that my blood was very sweet and attracted mosquitoes to bite me.

It is funny to think about it, as it almost sounds cute, but when I was a little girl I felt uneasy when I had to share this explanation with others.

I still encounter people who ask about my skin. People can be really thoughtful when asking, but at times they can be rude. I have learned to answer honestly. Giving others the facts about the condition not only prevents me from feeling awkward, but it can also open an opportunity to share my knowledge with others and even learn about other skin disorders.