Social media has changed how we connect, share, and heal. It’s a space where stories once hidden now find light, sometimes turning personal struggles into global conversations.People post raw moments – from travel adventures to health battles – building communities that uplift instead of isolate. But just like a coin has two sides, judgmental comments can still sting.One such story is about Shrestha Tiwari, who received criticism for showing her skin while living with a unique skin condition.
Photo: @shrestha_tiwari/ Instagram
Meet Shrestha Tiwari, who is redefining beauty by prioritising self-love
Shrestha Tiwari has a skin condition called psoriasis, which causes silvery scales on her skin that often appear over red patches. This has brought her a lot of stigma – people wrongly think it’s contagious, mistake it for ringworm, or tell her to hide her skin.According to onlymyhealth, at 23, she’s working hard to normalise psoriasis. It’s an autoimmune condition where skin cells grow too quickly on the surface, forming red, itchy, scaly areas known as plaques.Tiwari loves travelling and scuba diving, embraces slow fashion, and follows a plant-based diet. These passions might sound familiar, but she pursues them while managing her skin. She refuses to let it control her life.
Shrestha was diagnosed with the condition at the age of 8
Shrestha told Elle that before her diagnosis, she was a bubbly, outgoing kid. Initially, her patches were small and easy to hide under school uniforms. But as they became more visible, she made up stories about burns or bike falls, hoping the patches and the questions, would disappear.Some of her friends were kind, but many gossiped behind her back. During a bad flare-up at 15, a teacher told her to wear her winter uniform even in summer to cover up. She became very introverted and stopped talking to people.But she came back stronger. Things only changed when she accepted that she would live with this condition long-term. She then started opening up, wearing dresses and sleeveless tops again.
She has embraced her condition as a superpower
Shrestha Tiwari shares her insecurities and coping strategies related to psoriasis on social media, but takes breaks on tough days to avoid forced positivity. During severe flare-ups, she posts less, balancing her role as a content creator with authenticity, as she told Elle.Recently, a viral reel drew thousands of comments. While some were hurtful, most were supportive. This taught her not to let a few negative voices overshadow the positive ones, even though they can linger for years.Her audience, mainly fellow psoriasis patients, remains loyal. Shrestha encourages people to strengthen their mindset and rise above criticism.
