Irish woman left with permanently red nose from sunburn: 'People think I'm sick'
Jessica McGirr first spotted the colour change five years ago when she was sunburnt during a holiday in Tenerife.
But while the rest of her skin recovered, her nose did not. She says the bizarre situation is destroying her self-confidence and has seriously impacted her life with the 24-year-old never leaving the house without makeup and often suffering unwanted comments.
'The redness has ruined my self-confidence and I now wear makeup every day to hide it,' Jessica, originally from Ireland but who currently lives in New York, told NeedToKnow. 'I wouldn't go out in public with my red nose as I get many comments from strangers asking me what's wrong with my nose or asking if I am sick.
'Strangers are very open to questioning me about my nose and pointing it out, but I don't think if it was a birthmark I would get as many comments about it. No diagnosis has been made which is very frustrating because I wish I knew why this happened and if there could be a cure.'
Jessica was on a boat trip on the Spanish island when she nodded off under the blazing sun without any sunscreen on. She spent around four hours exposed to strong UV rays and when she woke up, she had a bright red nose.
The 30-year-old said the initial burn took about a week to go down. But two weeks later, her nose was still red and sore. It later became rough, inflamed and even started bleeding and scabbing.
Now more than five years later, Jessica's nose is still red. She said: 'The initial blistering took about a week to go away but after two weeks, when my nose was still red, I got concerned.
'The skin on my nose was very textured and would often bleed and scab. For the first three years after the burn, my nose was very inflamed. It is more calm at the moment. It's still very red but the texture is smoother.'
Jessica has seen three different doctors about her nose. She said: 'I was prescribed a few different creams at first, then I was prescribed medication for acne but neither of those worked.
'I was recommended to go to a skin clinic and get laser, so I got four sessions of intense pulsed light therapy but saw no results. I've had visual skin evaluations and blood tests but no doctor ever gave me a diagnosis. They denied it being rosacea due to it only being on my nose and it staying consistently red.'
Jessica claims she hasn't been treated seriously and some doctors have simply told her to avoid spicy foods.
She said: 'I feel very let down by the healthcare system at home as no doctor ever seemed to care or wanted to refer me to a specialist. I don't do any treatments or use any creams at the moment and I've never noticed an improvement with treatment. I now wear factor 50 sunscreen every day.'
Jessica refuses to go outside without makeup and uses heavy concealer to cover the redness. She added: 'I would love to seek further help.
'However, to me, it feels like I am throwing money away as you have to pay so much for skin consultations just for them to not be able to help you. 'If I knew a treatment would work, I would love to try it.'
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The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I nearly died after eating omelette at hotel buffet in Gran Canaria – but it was my daughter who was scarred for life
After screaming in agony surrounded by blood and vomit, mum Michelle was overcome with a sense she was about to die. But little Lizzie, then 11, developed a devastating disorder that ruled her life for the next 12 years HOLIDAY HELL I nearly died after eating omelette at hotel buffet in Gran Canaria – but it was my daughter who was scarred for life WHEN Michelle Dell booked a summer holiday to Gran Canaria, she expected two weeks of fun in the sun. But just days after arriving, the Sheffield mum fell gravely ill - and before long, she knew she was dying. 17 Michelle Dell went on holiday to Gran Canaria with her husband Wayne and two daughters Lizzie and Rosie Credit: Supplied 17 After eating at the all-inclusive buffet, she ended up fighting for her life Credit: Supplied The terrifying ordeal left an even deeper scar on her daughter Lizzie, then 11, who developed a devastating phobia that ruled her life for the next 12 years. Michelle tells The Sun: 'I feel lucky every day of my life to still be here but, also, I have felt terrible guilt for what happened to Lizzie - wondering if we could have done anything differently. 'It took me four years to recover and I now have lots of long-term health problems. 'None of that matters though, because I'm still here.' The family's nightmare began in the summer of 2012 after jetting to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands with friends. The group upgraded to a new four-star hotel in the popular seaside resort Playa del Ingles after two nights, because the first one they had booked was disappointing. Michelle, along with husband Wayne, 52, and daughters Lizzie and Rosie, then 10, were in an apartment, with six other pals on the trip located next door. On the third night of the holiday, the group went for a buffet dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Michelle says: 'As all-inclusives go, this one felt good quality and the choice of food was good. 'I'm a bit of a clean freak and it seemed very clean. What is salmonella, what are the symptoms and treatment? 'I and five others in the group went for the Spanish omelette, which tasted perfectly good.' The group headed out for a few rosés, gin and tonics and Spanish lagers at a nearby bar. But the next day, things took a dramatic turn. Michelle says: 'In the morning, I went onto my balcony and our friends next door said one of the group had been up all night sick with a bug. 'We had a bit of a giggle and made light of it because we thought it was very minor but as I was talking, I thought, 'Oh goodness, I need the toilet.'' Michelle suffered sudden diarrhoea, but assumed it was a minor travel bug. Within hours, four others were sick. Michelle was getting worse with every passing minute. It was like the worst horror film I'd ever seen. There was blood all over the floor, sick everywhere and she was screaming in agony Lizzie She says: 'I was doubled over in agony. I'm not really one to make a fuss but it was absolutely the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. 'It was as though somebody's hands were inside my tummy twisting it and the pain wouldn't stop.' The hotel doctor was called and tried multiple times to put a cannula in her arm to get fluids in, but Michelle was too poorly and couldn't be rehydrated. Michelle says: 'By this time I felt like I'd been drugged and was drifting in and out of consciousness.' Wayne and Michelle had tried to shield the girls from the events unfolding by asking them to stay in their beds - which were separated from their bed by a small partition wall. But for Lizzie, hearing her mum's screams was distressing. Lizzie says: 'When I did see her it was like the worst horror film I'd ever seen. 'There was blood all over the floor from the cannula being taken in and out. 'There was sick everywhere because mum was vomiting so much. She was screaming in agony.' 17 The terrifying ordeal left a deep scar on her daughter Lizzie, then 11 Credit: Supplied 17 After seeing her mum 'dying', she developed a phobia that took over her life for 12 years Credit: Supplied 17 Lizzie says: 'When I saw mum, it was like the worst horror film I'd ever seen' Credit: Supplied 17 Michelle, from Sheffield, with Lizzie and Rosie more recently Credit: Supplied Taken to a local hospital in Maspalomas, she was given fluids and sent back to the hotel hours later - still with no diagnosis. The next day, on day five of the holiday, she collapsed again and was rushed to a larger hospital. Doctors soon discovered she had contracted an extreme case of salmonella - a bacterial infection linked to food poisoning. Michelle says: 'My body was swollen and huge with the fluids. My eyelids couldn't even open properly. 'I remember phoning my mum in England from my bed and saying, 'I think I'm going to die.' 'There was something telling my brain: 'It doesn't matter what you do now, your body's taken over.' I thought my internal organs were shutting down.' As the rest of the group began to recover, Wayne stayed with the kids, trying to keep things as normal as possible. In despair, Michelle called him. She says: 'I told him, 'You need to come back to the hospital because something's happening. I'm falling really ill again'. 'He was having pizza with the girls, but I insisted, 'You need to come now. This is really serious'. 'The staff kept saying, 'You are fine'. I'm not a melodramatic person but when he came in, I sobbed. 'I told him, 'I am not fine. I'm going to die. You need to tell them to get me a doctor now to do more tests. Please make them understand I'm just not a hysterical woman. I am ill'.' The worrying rise in salmonella cases By Isabel Shaw, Health Reporter SALMONELLA cases are at a record high in Britain - and there are some key signs you can look out for. In the most recent outbreak, over 100 people were sickened and 14 rushed to hospital after eating tomatoes. Health officials urged Brits to be on high alert for the symptoms of salmonella infection, which can last anywhere from four to seven days. Cases hit a record decade high in 2024, soaring by almost a fifth in a single year to over 10,000 cases, UKHSA data shows. Separate statistics reveal cases in the first quarter of 2025 were even higher than 2024, with some 1,588 cases logged between January and March 2025, up on the 1,541 reported over the same period in 2024. By comparison, there were 1,328 reports between January and March 2023. Children under 10 were particularly affected, accounting for 21.5 per cent of cases. Salmonella, which lives in the guts of animals and humans and spreads through contaminated poo, can cause a sudden bout of fever, vomiting, explosive diarrhoea, stomach pains and headaches, often striking within hours of eating tainted food. The bacteria, which often taints food if grown in dirty water or handled with grubby hands, attacks the gut lining, damaging cells and stopping the body from soaking up water. This is what leads to the painful cramps and non-stop diarrhoea as the body flushes out the water it couldn't absorb. Most people recover without treatment, but in rare cases it can turn deadly. Around one in 50 sufferers go on to develop a serious blood infection, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of complications. Thankfully, deaths remain rare in the UK, with fatal cases making up just 0.2 per cent of reports. Wayne fought Michelle's corner and doctors agreed to retest her. They found she had sepsis, a deadly immune reaction to an infection that needs to be treated rapidly. One of the key symptoms of sepsis is someone saying they feel like they are dying, according to the UK Sepsis Trust, as well as a high temperature, chills, a rapid heart rate, a rash that doesn't fade when pressed and breathlessness. The body overreacts to the infection and starts attacking itself, damaging its own tissues and organs. 17 Michelle collapsed after contracting salmonella in 2012 Credit: Supplied 17 Her daughters Rosie and Lizzie were staying in the same room Credit: Supplied 17 Michelle later discovered she had sepsis and thought she was dying Credit: Supplied 17 She sobbed down the phone: 'I am not fine. I'm going to die' Credit: Supplied Michelle began to stabilise after her treatment was changed, with a new antibiotic. Later, doctors told her they believed it was the hotel's Spanish omelette that caused her illness, due to the timings of events. Friends also told Michelle that other guests, like the five in her party, had eaten the omelettes and got sick too. Michelle's daughters flew home with the rest of the group after the fortnight holiday ended and went to stay with their grandparents, while Wayne stayed at Michelle's bedside. She gradually started to feel better, and flew home a week later, but has been left with after-effects, as 40 per cent of survivors are. She lives with chronic fatigue (also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME), non-epileptic seizures, chronic migraines and functional neurological disorder - a problem with how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. 'I'd give myself black eyes' It wasn't just her life that was changed though. Daughter Lizzie, who was traumatised by her mum's brush with death, was also deeply affected. Lizzie says: 'I'd seen my mum so ill in the hotel, and then we'd seen her in hospital looking grey and almost dead. 'The second I got home, the first thing that I got in my head was, 'OK, so I'm not going to eat.' In my head, it was a case of, 'If you eat, you could die'.' From a healthy 11-year-old, Lizzie grew anxious and gaunt, surviving only on bread sticks, cereal and packaged snacks. In 2017, five years after the holiday, 16-year-old Lizzie suffered a full-blown panic attack on a train after seeing someone being sick. She says: 'I'd never had one properly like that so when I got home I Googled my symptoms and that's the first time I read about emetophobia – a fear of vomiting. That was me.' It spiralled into constant anxiety and self-harm, as Lizzie tried to focus on anything but the fear. 17 Lizzie developed emetophobia - a fear of vomit Credit: Supplied 17 She almost stopped eating and lost a significant amount of weight Credit: Supplied 17 She eventually sought help from phobia specialists Nik and Eva Speakman Credit: Supplied 17 Lizzie says she felt 'cured' after 25 minutes of speaking to Eva and Nik Credit: Supplied 'There were days when I had seven or eight panic attacks and wherever I was – on a plane or on a train – I'd start screaming,' she says. 'Looking back, the panic attacks were just this need to create another feeling other than sickness, so I'd create pain. 'I'd even give myself black eyes from hitting myself.' Though talented Lizzie had won a place at drama school in Manchester, she lived alone and didn't socialise. She says: 'I didn't do anything for 12 years. I went to drama school in Manchester but lived on my own because I didn't want to be around others. 'I didn't go to parties. I didn't drink.' In 2023, Lizzie took a dream job as a Christmas elf in Lapland - but was sent home months later after her weight plummeted from nine stone to just five stone two pounds. I cherish every day. I've gone from seeing my daughter's life slipping away to seeing her embracing it Michelle Dell She says: 'Being abroad, I was just unable to eat anything cooked by others, so I'd be eating breakfast bars from the local shop and not a lot else. 'It got even worse when my flatmate out there got sick. 'I didn't tell anyone about my worries with food but I was sent home from the job. 'Not long after that I lost my acting agent because I just wasn't well enough to get parts. 'It's really sad because I wanted to live, but I'd completely lost all joy in life. 'I was sick of looking at myself in the mirror covered in bruises.' Michelle, who works as a college lecturer with inclusion students, was desperate to help her daughter. They saw private and NHS specialists, as well as multiple therapists. What is emetophobia and how can you overcome it? By Nik and Eva Speakman Emetophobia is an intense fear of vomiting. It is a debilitating and often misunderstood phobia. It can manifest in a range of obsessive-compulsive behaviours, such as excessive sanitisation, extreme food restrictions, eating disorders, health anxiety, and avoidance of travel, medical environments, and even children. Social withdrawal is common, with many sufferers limiting contact with others for fear of illness, vomit and vomit-causing bugs. While it is especially prevalent among women, emetophobia remains under-recognised within the medical community, despite being the most common phobia seen in our clinic. It's estimated that up to 5.5million people in the UK may be affected, yet provision of effective treatment is still limited. Emetophobia is not innate. It typically stems from a distressing childhood experience, such as a traumatic incident at school or mirroring an anxious parent's behaviour. The key to recovery lies in positively reframing these formative experiences with an experienced therapist. Using a simple self-help exercise can really help. Create two columns - Fears vs Facts - to challenge distorted beliefs with logic and evidence. She says: 'We were in despair because my husband and I felt like we had exhausted every option. 'Then I saw there was an emetophobia class with The Speakmans in February 2025 in Manchester and I just booked it instantly. 'I held out no hope but I was just happy Lizzie was willing to go.' Life change experts Nik and Eva Speakman are known for helping thousands overcome phobias. Lizzie says: 'I went into their workshop and by the time I left they'd literally changed my life. 'I shared my story, very nervously on stage. They completely changed the way I had thought about things. 'They told me: 'Being sick didn't nearly kill your mum, it was the egg. Being sick had actually helped save her.' 'Twenty-five minutes into speaking to them, I felt completely different. 'Two weeks later, I couldn't believe it. I got norovirus. 'I'd spent 12 years trying to avoid being sick and now I had it, full on. 'But I was absolutely fine. I was sick all night, non-stop, no issue, no panic attacks.' Today, Lizzie is thriving - eating normally, running a performing arts school and planning a holiday to Greece. She says: 'I still have some of the thoughts but they don't stop me from eating three meals a day, piling the food on. I just don't worry about being sick anymore. 'I used to think I wouldn't be here for much longer. Now, it's like I am living properly because I haven't for so long'.' Michelle remains full of gratitude having nearly lost her life and watching her daughter turn her life around. 'I cherish every day,' she says. 'I've gone from seeing my daughter's life slipping away to seeing her embracing it. I will forever be grateful to The Speakmans.' 17 Today, Lizzie is thriving - eating normally and running a performing arts school Credit: Supplied 17 Michelle says she now 'cherishes every day' Credit: Supplied 17 'I will forever be grateful to The Speakmans,' the mum says Credit: Supplied For more real-life examples, practical tips, and expert support, tune in to The Speakmans' Hope Clinic podcast, where emetophobia - and other common issues - are treated live. To learn more about The Speakmans' Emetophobia Masterclasses, email: Events@
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
I lost 22st WITHOUT fat jabs, my body is covered in loose skin but it's better than being dead before I turned 30
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The Irish Sun
28-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Female bodybuilder dies aged 37 after suffering suspected heart attack in training for Ms Olympia in Las Vegas
A SPANISH female bodybuilder has died aged just 37 after suffering a suspected heart attack. Lorena Blanco, who was preparing to take part in Ms Olympia in Las Vegas in October, was taken to hospital after collapsing at her home in Lugo in Spain's north-west Galicia region on Saturday morning. Advertisement 1 A female bodybuilder has died aged just 37 after suffering a suspected heart attack She was rushed to a nearby hospital but pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Lorena, who worked out at a sports club in her native city called the Club Fluvial de Lugo, was trained by her husband Isi Bolanos who is also well-known in the bodybuilding world. She completed in a total of seven shows during the 2024 bodybuilding season after turning pro a year earlier, competing around the world with a best finish last year at the Tahoe Pro where she came fourth. That placing earned Lorena, a Spanish champion in several fitness categories, her qualification to the Ms. Olympia which is regarded the pinnace of female bodybuilding like the Mr Olympia competition for men. Advertisement READ MORE IN sport She had competed a little over a week ago at the Gomeisa Ultimate Battle Pro in Medellin in Colombia, another event run by the IFBB Professional League which is the governing body for professional bikini and other bodybuilding competitions, where she ranked 12th overall. Her funeral was held yesterday in private with only close friends and family believed to have been in attendance. Canary Islands bodybuilding group Pioneers del Culturismo Canario Español said in a social media tribute: 'We send our most sincere condolences to the friends and family of Lorena Blanco. Rest in peace.' Another strength training organisation wrote online: 'The fitness world mourns a legend. RIP IFBB Pro Lorena Blanco, 1988-2025.' Advertisement Most read in Sport Breaking Her death at just 37 also led to comments about the type of training methods she was subjecting herself to. Ail Andy wrote on Facebook: 'These sudden heart attacks happen to a lot of high-performance athletes and almost none of them survive them. Deion Sanders diagnosed with bladder cancer as Colorado Buffaloes head coach makes announcement over health 'I think it has to do with the size of their hearts given the amount of exercise and their age.' In June a professional female bodybuilder was beaten to death with a hammer at her rented Costa del Sol home before her muscleman husband killed himself using a knife. Advertisement Colombian bodybuilding champion Zunilda Hoyos Mendez, also described locally as an Onlyfans model, was found dead on June 19 after detectives went to the property on an upmarket residential estate in the popular resort of Fuengirola. The body of her partner, 46-year-old Jarrod Gelling, was found in a bathroom with what police described in an initial statement as 'apparent self-inflicted stab wounds.' Zunilda, who called herself Amy although she also known online as Colombian She-Hulk, had been missing for several days after flying to the Costa del Sol from Dubai where the couple spent much of their time following a competition. The dead woman's relatives described Jarrod after news emerged of her death as 'aggressive' and said they believe he could have lashed out after she told him she wanted a divorce. Advertisement Spanish news website El Espanol reported at the time that as well as being a big name in the professional bodybuilding world, Zunilda also had more than 100,000 followers on Onlyfans and Fansly where it said she sold steamy videos as 'the naughtiest fitness girl.' She finished second in the NPC Worldwide Latin American Championships in 2021. 'Rest in paradise' Her coach Branden Rey said in an emotional Instagram post beside a photo of her flexing her muscles in a black bikini: 'We had 17 days until we were going to hit the stage and shock the world my friend. 'I told you that you could possibly be top 10 in the world by the end of this year and I meant it. Rest in paradise Amy.' Advertisement In a second post he added: 'We were so close to the end but the closest person to you ended it too soon. 'Domestic violence should never be taken lightly, because it can leave many with a heavy heart.' In November last year a male bodybuilder died aged just 28 after suffering a heart attack during a punishing training session. Jose Mateus Correia Silva was working out with friends at a gym in Aguas Claras near the Brazilian capital Brasilia when he fell ill. Advertisement He was rushed to a nearby fire station by a firefighter pal he was with but efforts to revive him lasting more than an hour proved unsuccessful. Jose's heartbroken brother Tiago paid tribute to him in an emotional social media post, writing alongside a photo of the tragic athlete: 'You were incredible. Thank you for so much. I love you.' The fitness world mourns a legend. RIP IFBB Pro Lorena Blanco, 1988-2025.' Insisting his sibling was 'in good shape' and didn't have any health problems he was aware of in an interview with local media, he added: 'Heaven has gained an angel. Jose was a much-loved man.' The dead man had competed, finishing ninth in the Men's Physique Class up to 179cm in the 2018 South American Championships after an eleventh placing a year earlier in the Men's Bodybuilding Class up to 100kg in the Arnold Classic South America. Advertisement Although he wasn't competing when he died, Jose kept himself busy between training sessions preparing other bodybuilders for competitions and was the owner of an online supplements store. He had also qualified as a lawyer and completed a nutrition course. In September last year a teenage bodybuilder with a 'brilliant future' ahead of him was found dead at his home in Brazil. Matheus Pavlak, 19, had transformed his body in just five years after taking up the gruelling sport to overcome his obesity. Advertisement The police officer's son was a regular competitor in the southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina where he lived and last year won an U23 contest to become Mr Blumenau in his home city of the same name. In May last year he finished fourth and sixth in other regional competitions. He was found dead on September 1 at his home after suffering a reported heart attack. In May last year a Majorcan bodybuilder who survived cancer and life-threatening peritonitis died aged 50. Advertisement Xisco Serra's premature death was attributed locally at the time to natural causes after he suffered stomach problems. The sports science graduate, who started lifting weights as a 16-year-old, began competing three decades ago and went on take part in around 90 contests. His most notable wins on the international stage included Mr World IBFA in Rome in 2011 and Mr Universe IBFA in the 40-plus category in 2014, the same year he was voted overall Musclebeach Champion after competing in Venice, California.
