Model Rhian Sugden has revealed that she was left feeling insecure following unkind comments about her freckles.
The page three beauty, who is undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) with her husband Oliver Mellor, says she always used to love the freckles on her face but during her second round of fertility treatment last year she noticed that they had 'quadrupled.'
This led people to make unkind comments, assuming she'd 'ruined' her skin with sun damage.
But Rhian discovered that hyperpigmentation - a skin condition in which dark spots and dark patches of skin appear on the face - is a side effect of IVF.
"I always used to love my freckles and have always been happy to wear minimal makeup to show them off," she explained in a frank Instagram post.
"However during my second (failed) round of IVF last year my freckles quadrupled and took over my face. It now looks like I have awful sun damage and I’ve been so embarrassed by it.
"Little did I know that hyperpigmentation is a side affect of the IVF and the hormones that I injected."
Rhian, 34, says she ended up spending a 'small fortune' on treatments following remarks from strangers.
"For the last year people have picked up on my darkening freckles that have appeared under my eyes," she explained.
"I’ve received comments telling me it’s made me look older and that I’ve ruined my skin with sun damage... so I ended up spending a small fortune on treatments to try and shift it - and failed.
"Only to realise it’s actually caused by an increase in oestrogen which happens during fertility treatment and/or pregnancy. Something I had no idea about."
Addressing the hurtful comments she said: "It’s funny what affect other people’s opinions can have on you.
"Even when they’re from people we don’t even know, we still get affected and it’s made me so insecure."
Rhian says that with round three of treatment approaching she's probably going to have more freckles, but she's found an inspiring way of 'owning' them.
"Round 3 is looming which probably means even more are due to appear," she said.
"One of my friends said it looks like a super hero shaped mask has formed under my eyes because I’m a fertility warrior... which from now on, I shall be owning #ttccommunity #ttc #ivfwarrior #frecklesfordays."
This summer Rhian said getting a puppy, a cavapoochon called Roger, had helped to console her after the heartbreak of two failed IVF attempts with former Coronation Street star Oliver.
"Feeling very content with my little family right now," she told her followers.
"So many people told me that getting a puppy after failed IVF is a godsend and a good distraction.
"After two failed rounds I tell you what, I’ve not been this happy in months.
"My heart could burst."
After discovering that she wouldn’t be able to conceive naturally, she and her actor husband decided to have IVF.
Rhian and Oliver, 39, found out just before Christmas that their second round of treatment in November had failed.
Tests revealed she has the 'egg count of a woman over 45' and is in the stage of perimenopause - the time during which the body makes the transition to menopause marking the end of the reproductive years.
Rhian has also been told she has only a three per cent chance of getting pregnant by IVF.
In May, Rhian said their baby plans were on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic but they were determined to go for round three and refusing to give up hope of having the baby they long for.
