I couldn't work out why I always looked so ‘ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me
TOXIC HOUSE I couldn't work out why I always looked so 'ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me
A WOMAN discovered her dream home was slowly killing her - thanks to TikTok sleuths suggesting hidden mould could be causing her 'ugly' selfies.
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.
12
Sara Smith discovered her dream home was slowly killing her due to the mould
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
Sara and Colin moved into their first dream home in April 2024
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
Mould Sara discovered in her home
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
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.
A 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.
12
Just two days after they moved in, the 28-year-old started experiencing severe sinus congestions, which she put down to a cold
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
Six months later Sara noticed her eyelids and skin surrounding her eye turned pink, became itchy and started bleeding
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
The couple were shocked to find there was hidden water damage in nearly every room of the house
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
"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.
12
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
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
They've had to bin most of their belongings, including electronics, due to the mould
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
"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.
12
The couple have now moved out and alternate staying between their parents' houses
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
"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
12
While the couple were initially excited to move into their new home, Sara said the thought of it now makes her 'feel sick'
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
12
Sara claims the mould caused her to 'look ugly', triggered anxiety and depression and stopped her from seeing friends
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
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.
12
Sara had to get rid of 90 per cent of her items, down to electronics because the mould spores get so deep in there
Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
"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."
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Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I couldn't work out why I always looked so ‘ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me
Plus, how the issues have put a strain on her marriage too TOXIC HOUSE I couldn't work out why I always looked so 'ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me A WOMAN discovered her dream home was slowly killing her - thanks to TikTok sleuths suggesting hidden mould could be causing her 'ugly' selfies. 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. 12 Sara Smith discovered her dream home was slowly killing her due to the mould Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 Sara and Colin moved into their first dream home in April 2024 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 Mould Sara discovered in her home Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 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. A 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. 12 Just two days after they moved in, the 28-year-old started experiencing severe sinus congestions, which she put down to a cold Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 Six months later Sara noticed her eyelids and skin surrounding her eye turned pink, became itchy and started bleeding Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 The couple were shocked to find there was hidden water damage in nearly every room of the house Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "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. 12 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 Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 They've had to bin most of their belongings, including electronics, due to the mould Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "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. 12 The couple have now moved out and alternate staying between their parents' houses Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "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 12 While the couple were initially excited to move into their new home, Sara said the thought of it now makes her 'feel sick' Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 12 Sara claims the mould caused her to 'look ugly', triggered anxiety and depression and stopped her from seeing friends Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media 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. 12 Sara had to get rid of 90 per cent of her items, down to electronics because the mould spores get so deep in there Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media "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."
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
I couldn't work out why I always looked so ‘ugly' in selfies then realised my dream £300K home was slowly killing me
A WOMAN discovered her dream home was slowly killing her - thanks to TikTok sleuths suggesting hidden mould could be causing her 'ugly' selfies. 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. 12 12 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. 12 12 "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. 12 "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. 12 "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 12 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."
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Vet urges pet owners to avoid getting popular dog breed amid health concerns
A vet has urged dog-lovers not to get a certain dog breed in the future, claiming it is an 'animal welfare issue' Dogs are the most beloved pets in the UK and there's one breed that's particularly popular. The French Bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds in the UK, although according to The Kennel Club, figures have dipped slightly in recent years. Taking a look at registrations of French bulldog puppies between early 2018 and mid-2019, there was an 8% drop. That being said, the breed remains of of the nation's favourites. This dog breed is recognised for being playful, intelligent and adaptable, thriving with couples, families and single people. Despite the broad appeal, a vet named Ben has urged dog-lovers not to get a French Bulldog in the future. He regularly shares pet advice, information and his own opinions on social media. In a recent post on TikTok he said: "I am a practising small animal vet and I want to use the time that I have your attention for in this video to convince you never to get a French Bulldog, a bulldog or a pug. "Yes, they make wonderful companions but the fact that the French Bulldog is the most popular dog breed in America right now is a massive animal welfare issue because these breeds are not anatomically, physiologically or behaviourally normal dogs, and that causes a lot of suffering." Ben noted that studies have documented the lifespan for French Bulldogs to be as low as four-and-a-half years and seven to seven-and-a-half for bulldogs and pugs. The animal expert explained that these breeds are "not a wise choice" for those wanting a long-term canine companion, adding: "They're really expensive not just to buy but to own. Pet insurance premiums are extremely high because of all of their predictable, well documented health problems." He claimed that due to the costly insurance, many owners opt out and when a major health issue arises, they can't afford treatment, often resorting to large loans or credit card debt. The small animal vet further revealed that male dogs of this breed often have difficulty mating, leading to breeders resorting to artificial insemination. He added that many French Bulldogs cannot give birth naturally, meaning if you get one of these puppies, it's likely the mum has had to be "anaesthetised and cut open just for you to have the dog that you want to have." In his TikTok video caption, he wrote: "America's most popular dog breed is a health disaster. But information is power. "This is my attempt to convince as many people as possible who see this video not to get one of these dogs in future." Despite this, he recognised that there are dogs of the breeds he mentioned in his video that need rescuing and require loving homes. He encouraged owners to care for their flat-faced dogs as best they can. The PDSA backs this up, saying: "Frenchies are a flat-faced breed, which can often cause breathing problems and means they overheat quickly especially when they exercise in warmer weather. If you're looking for a dog to go on long walks with, a Frenchie probably isn't the best breed for you. In general, we'd recommend considering a different breed or a cross-breed to try and reduce some of the problems Frenchies have. If you're still looking specifically for a Frenchie, always make sure the parents of your pup have had all the necessary screening and try to pick a dog with a longer nose and wider nostrils." Several dog owners responded to the video, with one sharing: "I had my beautiful Frenchie Luna put to sleep in May just shy of her 14th birthday. Too many back street breeders around because they increased in popularity. I wouldn't buy one now, but don't regret the wonderful life we had together." It's crucial to conduct your own independent research before deciding on any specific breed.
