OT: Thank YOU for making me feel better about my 'imperfections' :)

I had a bit of a touchy day today, and felt a bit down about my appearance. It's summertime and skirts are all over the place, of course with bare legs. Yet my legs, even at 24, are faaar from perfect. The fact that most women of my age have perfect legs doesn't help either. I have open, huge pores, redness, ingrown hairs, infected pores and, yes of course, spider veins. To top it off I'm pale. The spider veins are getting worse really quickly -or maybe it's me paying more attention lately-, and really there's nothing I can do apart from treating the one's I've got -which I tried, btw, and so far got no results (it's been almost a month). Doctor said I shouldn't worry health-wise though.

So even though I love the shape of my legs, I feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes about them. I wear skirts and dresses nevertheless since I only feel tight pants agravate the problem anyways (I only feel comfortable in a pair of jeans I have which are flared and too big on me). Besides, I like skirts and dresses!

So I looked for 'blemished+legs' on Google and guess what, first entry is Angie's post from two years ago http://youlookfab.com/2010/05/.....ay-or-nay/.

She, and also all of you with your comments made me feel much better Also a young woman -don't know if she's still on YLF- that claimed she had them herself, and since highschool, and that she wasn't bothered because she looked great in skirts anyway

So I just wanted to say thank you for making me, and probably many other women, feel better abut themselves and their 'flaws', making them realize they are the rule, not the exception, and that it's ok to be the way they are.

This doesn't mean I won't have a down day tomorrow, but it still helps

11 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Your legs work flawlessly for you each day, and they deserve your love, Lemonade. We can be Spider Vein Princesses

I have pale, vein-y, skinny legs. Who says they are wrong? How can our body be wrong when it's healthy? It is what it is. Its natural. I wear skirts, dresses, clams and tapered shorts with bare legs no matter what.

You rock your gorgeous legs! Glad that we made you feel better.

morethanbeige

Veteran

Just wanted to chime in to say that I have experienced the same Angie/YLF phenomena. I feel so much better about my 'flaws'. In fact, I don't really even think about them as 'flaws', it's just the way I'm made. It's what makes us interesting! Not to say that I don't get down on myself still, because I do, but the attitudes on YLF are so loving and generous and kind. I want more of that in my life. And also, I want to help change the attitudes in the world so the young girls don't have to feel so critcal about their own bodies!

Thanks for sharing, Lemonade!

There you go, Laura. No flaws. I love that thinking - you know that

Jonesy

It's wonderful that you were able to "re-frame" how you feel about your legs! Flawless skin, like you see in magazines, doesn't exist in nature unless you are talking about babies and little children! Probably all of the "perfect" legs you see on the street on other women look different up close, you know? Your own so-called imperfections are magnified--other women are probably looking at you and thinking *you* look fab!

Meredith1953

Count me among the veiny legged sisterhood. I used to avoid dresses and skirts and with encouragement I have received here and at home, I am becoming less self-conscious about them. We are too hard on ourselves sometimes!

Abie

Great thread find! I'm really glad that it helped you. I have clear skin and you can see my veins. I also have large spider veins on the backs of my legs and have since I was in my early 20s. Over the winter I as seriously considering having work done on them and they were really bothering me. I think when the season changed and I started wearing more skirts, shorts, and dresses, they just became less of a focus for me. I realized that even though they are clearly visible, it's not likely they are the first, second, or even third thing people are going to notice about me....especially with a great outfit.

At this point I think I am going to save the money and buy great shoes instead.

I am relieved though to know that there are many others out there with the same veiny legs, and that it's ok to be ok with them =)

Aziraphale

Almost all of us have an issue or two with our appearance, and "down days"! You seem to have a healthy attitude, especially for a young woman. I just wanted to say good for you. You're doing great. And I agree, this forum is good for making a gal see the positives instead of the negatives.

I've got spider veins on my nose. Is that worse than on the legs? I've had them since I was a teenager, and I'm nearly 40 now. They have not got appreciably worse over the years. I've had them zapped off a few times with a laser, but they tend to grow back. I've made peace with it (and made friends with a bottle of concealer). But I sure remember, as a young woman, how freaky I felt because no one else seemed to have them! So I can relate.

Suz

Not a one of us is as blemish free as an airbrushed photoshopped model. There are so many unrealistic images out there, we expect perfection of ourselves. That's why YLF is such a terrific place. We see real women here, all shapes and sizes and ages and complexions, and we recognize that true style has no age, no weight, no height, no shape - it's possible for each of us.

JennyAnne

I'm glad you've found comfort with your legs. I'm sure we all have somethign like that. I have some vericose veins after having kids. They mostly went away, but not completely. They're still bumpy and blue at some spots. but whatever. I figure no one is looking that close, and if they are, who cares.

Kyle

I am slowly learning to be more appreciative of my body as it is, and YLF continues to help me in that regard. I'm proud of you for considering these things while you are young. There's no time like the present to be kind to yourself.

ManidipaM

Good for you, Lemonade! Even with all the YLF support --- for which, a bow all arounf to Angie and the other ladies --- it is hard to reset years of worrying about a 'flawed' body, especially when social norms suggest they are altogether unacceptable, not just short of perfection or sub-optimal. Job well done, there, for owning your own body and with love!

Jaime

This is truly the magic of Angie and YLF.

Jenava

It's true; no one is looking that close! I am self-conscious about the skin on my face, having battle acne on and off since puberty. It's a bit worse for wear. But some times I look at photos I've taken for my outfit diary and my face looks nearly perfect from a space of a few feet away...no one is looking as close as I do and that helps me feel more confident.

Janet

Lemonade, I have all the same issues with my legs, plus a lovely thing called keratosis pilaris, plus cellulite, and to top it off, my legs are not even a very nice shape -- chubby knees, heavy thighs....

And you know what? Too bad. I'm almost 47, and it's not like they're going to get any prettier. But my legs carry me around every day, they can get me through a half-marathon or a 20-mile bike ride or many laps in the pool. So I will wear my skirts, shorts, etc., and anyone who doesn't like the look of my legs can look away!

Sveta

I will echo others in saying that you are a very wise young woman to handle this so well at your age. I had completely low self-esteem regarding my appearance when I was in my 20s: I wish I could go back 20 years and change it!
I also credit YLF and Angie for slowly building my confidence over the last 2 years to the point when I am happy to be me with all my imperfections. It is amazing how much more joy is suddenly in one's life when you are at peace with yourself!

Irene

I knew I wasn't alone here!

Janet, I have keratosis pilaris as well, but mainly on my upper-arms and chin. It's been receding for the past years but still extremely present, especially during winter. Been trying Aloe Vera gel combined with an extremely rich body milk (bought at the chemist) for sensitive skin... it's working wonders. I still have bumps, I don't think I'll ever have smooth skin but if this is the best I can get, well, I'm all for it.

Also have cellullite and stretch marks, but what's the point on remarking that, I only know one real woman ( I mean, not photoshopped lol) that has no cellullite whatsoever, and she doesn't even excercise, she's just genetically lucky. 95% of women have cellullite and stretch marks so, you know what, it doesn't bother me that much.

Transcona Shannon

Hear hear! So glad you're learning to love your body Lemonade. We all have flaws and nobody is absolutely perfect (not even the supermodels, that have the assistance of air brushing). YLF has done wonders for helping me accept my shape and learning to dress it to its fullest potential. Glad you're here!

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