For all of social media’s faults, it often comes through to prove how helpful it really is - and one woman is definitely in agreement.
Rosie Breen, who hails from Winchester, Hampshire, was shocked to discover her eczema was in fact a fungal infection after a stranger on TikTok encouraged her to get a mark on her back checked out. Watch her video below:
The 25-year-old was surprised when she spotted a comment from a follower telling her to go the doctor to get a mark on her back looked at.
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Breen, who has suffered with eczema since she was a child, believed it had just been a flare up of her skin condition and hadn’t paid any attention to it.
However, a trip to her GP confirmed she had Tinea Versicolor, a common fungal infection of the skin, which can be easily treated with an over-the-counter antifungal lotion, cream or shampoo.
While it was nothing to worry about, the social media star said that she is thankful the stranger spotted it straight away.
She shared: “I’m so thankful a stranger on TikTok spotted the mark on my back and told me to get it checked out.
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“I was just revealing my back in a video to show I was body positive about my eczema.
“I noticed a stranger's comment telling me it looks like a fungal infection, and it might be a good idea to get it checked.
“Fortunately, it’s nothing to worry about but I’m amazed she spotted it. I had just thought it was my eczema so never would have thought to get it looked at.”
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Rosie gets eczema flare ups on her back, arms, neck and face, but treats them with prescribed creams.
"They can be a bit inconvenient and be red and inflamed after I have been to the gym, but it doesn’t hold me back,” she said. "I post about it on my TikTok and Instagram and like to encourage body positivity.
"I posted a video showing off a top I used to never wear when I was self-conscious of my back and noticed the comment."
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The follower commented saying: 'It looks like you have Tinea Versicolor on your back, it’s not harmful but it’s skin fungus that cause the spots, might want to get it checked.’
Breen added: “I didn’t realise it was anything but eczema so I soon as I saw the comment, I knew to get it checked out.
“Sure enough it was the fungal infection she thought it was. Now I’m just waiting for a prescription to treat it.
“It’s amazing that she clocked and although it wasn’t anything serious, I’m so glad she said something. I thanked her on TikTok for spotting it. It still amazes me that she did."
Lisa McLoughlin