Hi my name is Richard,

I have read some of your stories and some of them are very touching indeed and it has just encouraged me to share my story. I fist noticed I had morphea when I was 17 at school it started as a small mark on my back.  I went to the doctor who referred me to a dermatologist who diagnosed morphea.

I felt devastated that I was different from other people at first, the condition affected my confidence because I would try my best to hide it from people and they asked if I had been bruised. This made it worse I felt more insecure and started on putting weight and not caring about my body. Before I used to visit the gym nearly everyday. This also affected my confidence with the girls for the first time.  Then a few months later I developed two patches on my abdomen so I visited the dermatologist again who gave a steroid cream for the affected areas but I think this has made it worse. Now I have four patches on my body.

In a way though I now feel lucky reading some of your moving stories because I have no side affects of itching or worse, I only notice the patches in the mirror. My advice is don't let it rule your life and no one is perfect because perfection is subjective and not an objective thought. If people can't accept you for who you are regardless of this condition, are they worth knowing? or maybe they are insecure in themselves.

I am 26 now and very happy about my life, I suppose I have just thought I am not going let Morphea beat me!! and I have found my friends and other close people have been very supportive.

Regards and Good Luck.