The person behind the scars

Mohammad is 28 and lives in Iran. For nearly 10 years, he has lived with severe acne scarring across his face, neck and body. Here, he shares how his skin has affected his confidence, mental health and relationships, and why he continues to hope for a better future.

For Mohammad, acne has left more than permanent marks on his skin. His experience has also been shaped by feeling misunderstood and unsupported.

He feels that a lack of understanding about his acne when he was younger meant he didn't receive the treatment he needed, and his condition worsened, leaving him with extensive scarring.

Alongside this, Mohammad has lived with generalised anxiety and treatment-resistant depression for nine years. He has also been diagnosed with a severe nerve-related disability.

The visible nature of his scarring has brought its own challenges. Strangers have made assumptions about him, including wrongly believing he uses drugs, while hurtful comments from people close to him have affected his self-esteem.

As his nerve condition has progressed, Mohammad has also found that some people around him have become more distant. At times, he has felt increasingly isolated, with few people he feels able to turn to for support.

Over the years, Mohammad has tried numerous treatments, saving small amounts of money whenever he could in the hope of finding something that would help.

Accessing support has also been difficult. Living in Iran, Mohammad feels that access to more advanced treatment options can be limited, and the financial cost of seeking help has added another challenge.

More recently, he has used AI-powered translation tools to help him communicate with doctors and organisations internationally, despite language barriers. He has also applied to several international programmes, holding on to the possibility that one opportunity might change his circumstances.

Despite everything he has experienced, Mohammad has not given up hope.

He wants people to understand that skin conditions are not simply cosmetic concerns. They can affect confidence, mental health, relationships and the way someone experiences everyday life.

"I am not asking for sympathy. I am simply asking to be heard," he says.

By sharing his story, Mohammad hopes to help others better understand the impact of severe acne and scarring, particularly for people who may be struggling without access to the treatment and support they need.

His hope is simple: to have the opportunity to receive appropriate treatment and to live a life where he is not judged by the appearance of his skin.

Most of all, he wants others in a similar position to know that they are not alone.