A woman covered in birthmarks has revealed how people sometimes ask if she’s ‘fallen over in mud’ but says she ‘embraces’ being different rather than hiding it.
As Scarlett Clarke entered the world and took her first breath; it wasn’t met with excitement as expected.
Instead, the feeling of fear flooded across everyone’s faces.
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And it was because she was born with multiple brown birthmarks across her body, one of which stretches across the entirety of her lower back.
As doctors struggled to find a cause, her parents were left “terrified” of the potential reality.
Until her godmother came across an advert in a magazine asking for babies born with certain birthmarks to get in touch with a specialist at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
And Scarlett, now 20, was diagnosed with congenital melanocytic naevus (CMN); a rare genetic condition that presents as dark and often hairy birthmarks covering up to 80% of the body.
“Some people ask if I’m OK as they think I’ve fallen over in mud,” the student, from Gloucestershire, told What’s The Jam.
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“And some children will come up to me in public and ask what’s all over my body.
“But it’s from a place of genuine concern and curiosity, so it doesn’t bother me.”
Scarlett, who is the youngest of three, is the only person in her family with the condition.
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Initially, doctors feared she might be contagious, though testing confirmed this was not to be the case.
When she got her aforementioned diagnosis, it was found that, luckily, it ran only skin-deep.
For some people, CMN is more than just a birthmark.
The condition can affect bodily systems beyond the skin, including neurological problems, medical complexities, an increased risk of melanoma, and, in some cases, it can be fatal.
Even though people used to stare, and parents used to be cautious, Scarlett never suffered any instances of bullying.
But she still struggled being visibly “different” to others, until she came across Caring Matters Now.
The charity, for which she is an ambassador, provides personal and compassionate support for anyone affected by CMN.
They raise awareness and visibility of the condition and fund pioneering research to improve understanding, care and treatment.
She said: “I used to carry leaflets around with me about it.
“I’d hand them out to the kids in school if they looked at me a bit funny or asked what was on my body.
“Over time, people stopped asking, as I had already answered everything they needed to know.
“So many people cocoon themselves, but having the support of Caring Matters Now has helped me to take a deep breath.
“I’ve been able to show parents of kids with this condition that it does work out – and they will be able to have a normal life.”
Up to 80% of Scarlett’s body is covered in the birthmarks, which are hairy.
While she’s naturally blonde, the patches are covered in dark, ‘horse-like’ hair.
She shaves the ones on her legs, but only trims the one on her back.
Scarlett must be careful in summer since she’s at a high-risk of developing melanoma, though she still manages to enjoy herself like everyone else.
She added: “I still go round in a bikini, but I need to stay in the shade and wear a high-factor sun cream.
“If I go out in peak hours, then I put a rash vest on.
“I was upfront about it all with my current boyfriend and he’s very supportive of me.
“My attitude is that if you hide it, then it shows you’re ashamed of it.
“But you shouldn’t be, as it’s a part of you and is something to embrace.
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