A young woman from the United Kingdom has recounted the terrifying medical ordeal that made her feel like she was “burning alive from the inside out” after using a popular shower gel.
24-year-old Sian Pattison’s life was irrevocably changed by a severe allergic reaction that developed into a rare and life-threatening skin condition. What began as a simple act of hygiene swiftly escalated into a fight for her life.
A Simple Shower Leads to a Medical Crisis
Sian used a ‘Mr Bubble’ shower gel, a product she had never tried before. Within an astonishingly short period, her body began to rebel violently. “It was like something out of a horror film,” she described. Her skin turned a frightening shade of purple and began to peel away from her body in sheets.
Doctors diagnosed her with Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), an extremely rare and agonising condition that causes the skin to blister and detach from the body. Sian’s body was 90% covered in the painful rash, and she was immediately placed into an induced coma to manage the unbearable pain.
The Agonising Road to Recovery
Waking up from the coma weeks later, Sian faced a long and gruelling battle. Her recovery was fraught with challenges:
- Extensive Skin Loss: She lost nearly all of her skin, leaving her vulnerable to infections.
- Intense Pain Management: Her treatment required powerful pain relief around the clock.
- Psychological Trauma: The event left deep mental scars alongside the physical ones.
Medical professionals compared her injuries to third-degree burns, requiring meticulous care in a specialist burns unit.
A Life Forever Changed
Today, Sian continues to live with the consequences of that fateful day. Her story serves as a stark warning about the potential severity of allergic reactions and the devastating impact of rare medical conditions. She bravely shares her experience to raise awareness for others, highlighting the importance of patch testing new products and understanding the signs of a severe reaction.
