In 2019 I was diagnosed with Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU) and Angioedema, that put my life on pause. I suffered from unrelenting hives and facial swelling that wouldn't go away for nearly three years. Doctors told me my hives were a form of autoimmune disease, and my immune system was attacking my body and causing hives as a result. 

But this wasn't just a few hives with an Itch. Most people have no idea of how life-altering this disease can be. My entire body (head to toe) was covered with hives and swelling from internal organs to hands, feet, lips, and eyes. They would Pop up anywhere before the previous one goes down like a whack-a-mole game. As the hives emerged, the area around each hive felt hot, both to the touch and under the skin. My body felt like an active volcano, and hives were lava coming out of it. Some days, the swelling was so deep that it would cause bruises and itch, making me want to tear off my skin. I couldn't sit, walk, or even lie in bed. I was on high doses of antihistamines, immunosuppressants, cortisone, and steroids, but none provided me relief. I gained 30 pounds as a side effect, making me feel like a zombie. After going through so many medications and years of pain, I found an Immunosuppressant injection (Xolair) combined with a low histamine diet and healthy living that worked for me. Today, I am hive free and in the process of claiming my life back. 

Unfortunately, stigma is attached to skin conditions and "imperfect" skin. People's reactions could be very hurtful in a society where everyone wants to achieve that flawless skin. But when I was looking at myself, I was amused. Maybe it was a creative in me or all the drugs I was taking, but I would get lost in a magical world that the shapes, swelling, and formations of my hives brought me every day. Never mind the humor I found every morning waking up to different facial features. Some days it would be great lips; some days, it would look like plastic surgery gone wrong.  

So I turned photos I took for my doctor into the fun and creative world in my head to spread awareness for chronic idiopathic urticaria and bring a smile to those who suffer from this condition.