I couldn't work out why I always looked so ‘ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me
Sara Smith and her husband, Colin Smith, moved into their first dream $400,000 (£297,962) home in April 2024 after saving up for years.
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But just two days after they moved in, the 28-year-old started experiencing severe sinus congestions, which she put down to a cold.
Six months later Sara noticed her eyelids and skin surrounding her eye turned pink, became itchy and started bleeding.
The raw skin was dry and was sore when she used face wash or sweated while working out and initially believed it might be caused by allergies or eczema.
Baffled, the procurement analyst posted videos on TikTok about her condition and claims commenters saved her life after saying the rash could be caused by mould.
Following an inspection by a mould dog, the couple were shocked to find there was hidden water damage in nearly every room of the house, with the biggest stain lurking under the carpet.
The couple have now moved out and alternate staying between their parents' houses while stumping up $10,000 (£7,452) for a remediation company, claiming their insurance doesn't cover it.
They've had to bin most of their belongings, including electronics, due to the mould and also face high medical bills.
GoFundMe page has been set up by a friend to help support the couple.
Sara claims the mould caused her to 'look ugly', triggered anxiety and depression and stopped her from seeing friends.
Sara, from Columbus, Ohio, US, said: "My husband and I bought the house together, it's our first house.
Serious Warning: New Side Effects of Popular Skin Creams Revealed
"The market has been super bad, me and my husband Colin have been saving since 2020. It was a really big purchase, it's a lot for an hourly worker like myself.
"Two days after moving in I started having severe sinus congestion, which I thought was just a cold.
"I went to my primary care provider and she said it's just a cold. I went to an allergist a couple of weeks later and they gave me steroids.
That helped for about two weeks but it returned.
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"Six months in, the eye stuff happened. It started to look like a pink eye shadow and then more like a mask.
"The rash was really itchy and it would bleed and crack when dry.
"Whenever I worked out the sweat would make it burn so badly. Any type of face wash on it would be the most terrible experience ever."
At her wits end, Sara decided to post and see if people had any tips for her issue.
She continued: "TikTok told me to get out of there.
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"It really saved my life, if it wasn't for them commenting I would still believe it was some internal eczema thing.
"The mould dog was good at finding the hidden sources.
"We did get an inspection before buying the house, some mould was visible in the basement.
"The ones that were causing the most issues were stuck between insulation and you couldn't spot it.
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"The biggest one that was hidden was under the carpet.
"My husband ripped off the carpet in the bedroom and it was covered in mould. [At some point someone] painted the ceiling white where the water damage was.
"The thing about mould is it makes you really anxious and depressed so I never went to see my friends and I looked ugly so I thought I couldn't leave the house like this.
"We had remediation completed last week, the estimate is $10,000. The insurance doesn't cover mould so I'm not getting a dime for this.
"I have to get rid of 90% of my items, down to electronics because the mould spores get so deep in there."
RETURNING ISSUES
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While Sara's eyes are now healed, she experiences flare-ups whenever she returns to the house to move her belongings.
Sara, who spent more time in the house than Colin due to working from home, said he luckily hasn't experienced any health issues.
While the couple were initially excited to move into their new home, Sara said the thought of it now makes her 'feel sick'.
The thing about mould is it makes you really anxious and depressed so I never went to see my friends and I looked ugly so I thought I couldn't leave the house like this
Sara Smith
Sara said: "I work from home and I work out at home in the basement where there is significant mould.
"Then I would take a shower in my mouldy bathroom and then I would pick out clothes from my mouldy closet and wash them in my mouldy washer and dryer and sleep in my mouldy bedroom.
"My husband isn't experiencing anything, he doesn't work from home and he is pretty active outside of the house.
"I'm staying at my family members' houses, I have been back and forth to my in-laws and parents' houses.
"It has been super stressful, especially for a marriage. Living under our parents' roof has been really hard.
"My eyes started getting better about two weeks after moving back to my parents' house.
"They are fully healed now but because of the amount of exposure they've flared again because I had to go to the house to get rid of my stuff.
"I'm so depressed, there has been a lot in my head. Whenever I think of the house, it used to bring me so much joy and now I think of it with such disdain, it makes me sick."
What is mould and how to get rid of it?
Mould is more likely to grow during the winter months.
Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish revealed exactly why this is.
"Unfortunately, mould is a common problem many people face during winter. It thrives in conditions that are warm and damp, so your bathrooms are likely to be the most affected place.
"That said, during the colder months most rooms in your home could be vulnerable to mould growing.
"This occurs primarily from condensation that builds up on your windows when you've got your radiators on.
"If you think about it, when windows and doors are closed, there's not much chance for the air to circulate and the moisture to make a swift exit.
"This build up is what can cause dreaded mould to make an appearance, especially in bathrooms, as it creates that warm and wet environment that is a breeding ground for mould.
"If left untreated, not only is it unsightly but it can also pose a serious risk to your health, so it's really important you treat it.
"The key to tackle mould is to act fast.
"Try to come into as little contact with it as you can. So, grab your gloves, tie up your hair and get to work to remove any signs of mould as soon as you notice them.
"To keep mould at bay, there are some simple solutions you can introduce throughout home.
"The first is keep it ventilated. Yes, even in the cold winter months try to leave your bathroom window open for at least 10/15 minutes post shower or bath. This will get rid of any excess moisture quickly preventing mould gathering.
"If you're having a repeat problem with mould in one particular area, it might be because the humidity levels are too high. You can get a dehumidifier that will help keep the levels low and reduce the risk of mould returning.
"The golden rule to remember when dealing with mould is the quicker you can treat it, the better. If you leave it, it will only get worse so never ignore it!
"To successfully get rid of mould every time, I recommend opting for the UK's No 1 Mould & Mildew Remover, that effectively removes mould and mildew stains almost instantly, with no scrubbing necessary."
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