Photo: Frances Wang/Instagram
After a month away from the anchor’s desk on CBS Miami,Frances Wangis ready to go back to work — even ifher skin didn’t heal as muchas she hoped.
Wang has been dealing withperioral dermatitisfor most of 2019, after she was incorrectly prescribed topical steroids. The skin condition spread across her face, and Wang was “emotionally exhausted”trying to hide it before she went on-air.
After coworkers suggested that she take a break for her mental health, Wang went to stay with her family in Northern California for the last month.
“I didn’t want to take time off, but looking back, it was necessary for my health — both the medical aspect and even the mental aspect,” she tells PEOPLE. “Until I took time off, I felt the condition was spreading and worsening. Finally, it seems like it’s going the opposite direction, which is healing.”
Wang spent the month focused on her diet — she eliminated dairy, eggs and gluten — and stuck to a careful skincare routine. She swapped out her toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner and detergent, and started using Osmia black clay soap and skincare products from Amperna, along with a new topical cream from a dermatologist.
Wang is happy that she “mostly saw improvements,” though she was slightly disappointed that therewasn’t a huge change.
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Wang says the best change, though, has been to her mental health. Right before leaving, she decided to open up publicly about her skin condition, and found that it brought her relief.
“I think being public with my journey has really lifted my spirits, and has helped me mentally and emotionally,” she tells PEOPLE. “If I was still trying to hide this from everyone, I think I’d feel really down waking up every morning and not feeling like I [see] improvements.”
“Sure, I’m a bit nervous if I’m being honest about being back on-air with makeup on and feeling like people can still notice,” she says. “But now that my story is out there, I hope people will have seen or taken the time to read [it], and be more forgiving and kind if they do notice.”
She also hopes that in sharing her story over the last month, people will “feel more comfortable being their best selves and living their best lives, despite any insecurity they may have.”
source: people.com
