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.
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.
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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.
“I was just revealing my back in a video to show I was body positive about my eczema.
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“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.”
Rosie gets eczema flare ups on her back, arms, neck and face, but treats them with prescribed creams.
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"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."
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.’
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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