In an unfiltered post Tuesday, Akeelah and the Bee star Keke Palmer, sharing a series of makeup-free selfies laid bare her facial acne as she opened up on her struggle
“Hey you guys, for some of you this may be TMI, but for me my platform has always been used for things much greater than me,” she began. “Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome has been attacking me from the inside out my entire life and I had no idea. My acne has been so bad that people in my field offered to pay for me to get it fixed.
I tried EVERYTHING. I did Accutane TWICE.
Palmer explaining, said she changed her diet and tried out blood tests to check the cause of her acne but didn’t get answers;
“People say drink water, have a better diet, but I did all that, I ate all the “right” things, my blood tests were fine. But it took ME taking a personal look into my family that has a history of diabetes and obesity, to understand what was ACTUALLY happening with me. “And unfortunately doctors are people and if you don’t ‘look the part’ they may not think that’s your problem. They may not even suggest it if you ‘look healthy’ whatever that means! I came to a doctor in tears once and all they offered was a measles vaccine… Exactly.”
Palmer expressing hopes that her message will inspire others to be comfortable in their own skin, continued:
“I’m posting this to say that it’s okay to help ourselves.
My skin has made me sad many nights but I do not give up on myself. I know this is not me and my body has been looking for help,” she continued. “I do not have a medical degree but I did the research and took what I learned to a doctor and that led them to a proper diagnosis. I’m not saying trust web md for everything haha but what I’m saying is no one can help us like we can help ourselves.
“This especially made me sad because my family struggled for years and no doctor could help them, they actually misled them and just took their money. It’s only because of what my family sacrificed that allow me to even have the resources to share the information I’m sharing with you! Their fight out of poverty gave me a better life and I just want to share what I learn ?.
“The least harmful thing PCOS can bring is acne. To all the people struggling with this please know you’re not alone and that you are still so f**king fine!” Palmer wrote. “MY ACNE AINT NEVER STOPPED ME. But we don’t have to accept this. Now I can really help KEKE! And I love her so it’s ON.”
Pray for me on this journey and I will pray for you too. I’m not afraid to show myself to the world and you shouldn’t be either. ❤️” The actress wrote.
Polycystic ovary syndrome is a disorder involving infrequent, irregular or prolonged menstrual periods, and often excess male hormone (androgen) levels. The ovaries develop numerous small collections of fluid — called follicles — and may fail to regularly release eggs, according to Mayo Clinic.
