Reality TV star and model Laura Alicia Summers has described the trauma of watching her face swell and burn amid a mystery skin condition that sparked an emergency hospital dash. Model Laura found fame on MTV's Ex On the Beach and is known for her glamorous appearance on the city's celebrity social scene.
But over recent months a mystery skin condition that has baffled doctors has been getting worse and worse. It came to a head earlier this week when her face began to "swell and burn" and she began to struggle to breathe.
She raced herself to A&E at Tameside Hospital - where medics administered emergency steroids and anti-inflammatory and anthistimanes through a drip. After already waiting nine months to see a hospital dermatologist, she has now been placed on the emergency waiting list at Tameside and is hoping to see someone within the next two weeks.
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Laura, 38, from Ashton-under-Lyne, is desperate to finally get some answers - after first beginning to suffer from the skin complaint seven years ago. When it breaks out, it leaves her skin dry, swelling and in agony and is now blighting her life.
Ever since she first suffered symptoms she has been seeking help but medics are baffled as to what is causing it. She has since tried allergy tests, changing her diet, stopping beauty treatments like lip fillers and botox and has even paid thousands of pounds to private consultants while waiting for NHS assessment - but nothing has worked and the problem is getting worse.
Laura has shared images of her latest breakout on social media this week which left her face, neck, hands and chest swollen and in searing pain - and led to emergency hospital treatment. She has told the MEN about the devastating impact it is having on her life.
Laura said: "I've tried to be so positive while figuring out what the hell is happening to my body, but this affects every aspect of my life. Every time it happens now, it's getting more and more severe, I just want answers.
"I had to rush myself to A&E because I literally couldn't breathe, my face went from zero to hundred with the swelling and it burns. I have asthma and struggling to breathe like that it was so scary.
"They've been amazing at Tameside Hospital A&E they were really good - I got seen really quickly and put on lots of steroids and anti-inflammatory and antihistamines through a drip. I've now been put on an emergency waiting list to see the urgent care dermatologist."
Model Laura has had a series of cosmetic procedures over the years including breast implants and BBL Brazilian Butt Lift procedure in her bottom. She estimates she has spent £500,000 on cosmetic procedures - but does not believe they are to blame for her skin problems.
She knows the exact date when the problems first began - and has chronicled every breakout since but still has no clue what could be causing it to happen.
Laura says: "It first started seven years ago, I remember the exact night I went out in Manchester. I was wearing a custom-made dress with diamantes set in nickel - and I thought oh dear I must be allergic to nickel. I thought gosh won't wear that again.
"But it happened again - I wondered is it the perfume I'm wearing or the spray tan? It would come and go and I eliminated everything it could be - perfume, fake tan, fillers, botox, I even took my dogs away for five weeks to see if I was allergic to them in some way.
"I've had liver tests, allergy tests, I've had everything done and they can't find out what it is. I even spoke to the doctors on Botched, the American TV programme, and they said they did not believe it to be my surgeries that are causing it.
"I don't think it's a skin condition as such, I think the skin is reacting as a by product to something else. I'm the healthiest person that this could happen to which is why I can't understand it.
"I don't do drugs, I hardly drink, I don't smoke and I live a healthy lifestyle. I've tried going non-gluten, non-diary, I've spent thousands of pounds privately as well trying to figure this out but it's so hit and miss."
After sharing images of her condition onto her social media account, she's been interested to read comments from friends and followers who have suffered similar issues. She's desperate to find a solution for her situation.
She said: "In putting it out on social media, I just wanted to raise awareness really and there's been a few interesting things that's come back. Some people said it could be an effect from the steroids, but I've used steroid cream for my eczema since I was a baby and never had a problem.
"Loads of girls have messaged me about Breast Implant Illness, so that's something to explore but I wouldn't want to start taking things out until I knew for sure because these are costly procedures.
"I had my breasts first done when I was 18, and I have had complications with it over the years. But I just want to find out answers and figure out what the hell is going on."
As well as modelling and collaboration work on Instagram, Laura works as a hairdresser - but the skin problems have put a halt to all work projects for the foreseeable. She said: "I can't work like this at the moment because it goes all over my hands, my neck and my face.
"I can't even put makeup on, it burns my face. Even powder, it's almost like swelling. I couldn't cover this up even if I wanted to.
"But I need to work to live, I've got no rich parents or rich husband or sugar daddy, so if I don't work I'm going to lose my house."
It has also been a mental struggle for Laura to cope with the difiguring skin condition - particularly as she works in an image-obsessed industry and freely admits that she's "the vainest person".
She said: "I've been in this media world since I was 18 and mentally it's devastating for this to happen. I'm the vainest person in the world.
"The amount of money I've spent is something like £500,000 on surgery, and so this has taken me back to the old days of feeling insecure about the way I look. I'm trying to keep positive and upbeat but it is mentally destroying when you're used to looking one way.
"I'm used to being out on the social scene and looking immaculate, so yes this is triggering for my mental health. I'm trying to put it to the back of my mind, I've covered all the mirrors in my house, I'm running out of blankets as trust me there are a lot of mirrors in my house!
"I'm trying to stay positive. I don't want to be a victim, I'm going to get through this."
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