Mother whose severe vitiligo made her too depressed to leave the house posts her first Facebook selfie after vowing to 'stop hiding'

A mother-of-two whose severe vitiligo caused depression and stopped her leaving the house in daylight has vowed to 'stop hiding' and to start living her life.

Jasmiena Gyer, 40, from Cape Town, South Africa, has a rare skin condition causing pale patches to develop all over her body due to a lack of pigment polymer melanin.

She estimates that 79 per cent of her body is affected by vitiligo which has also spread to her face.

After two decades of cruel comments from strangers about her appearance Jasmiena felt unable to go out during the day time and suffered from low self-esteem.

Jasmiena Gyer, 40, from Cape Town, published this selfie on Facebook last week as part of a decision to 'stop hiding' and live her life after years of struggling with depression due to the skin condition vitiligo

Jasmiena, pictured with her children Adam and Imaan, says she has now found the confidence to live her life to the full after fellow suffers encouraged her to 'stop hiding'

Jasmiena, who works in a pharmacy, developed the skin disorder in her early teens but was only diagnosed at 18.

It started off as small patches on her arms and legs but after the death of her father in 2006 the vitiligo spread rapidly to cover most of her body.

Jasmiena discovered a Facebook support group which she says has been an invaluable help.

The support of fellow sufferers has encouraged her to 'stop hiding' and helped her to realise that she is beautiful.

Jasmiena, pictured with her son Adam, nine, at a sporting event, finds it difficult to leave the house in daylight as her skin is hyper sensitive and she has already been hospitalised with sunburn this year

Jasmiena, pictured with her husband Ebriarhiem four years ago, believes her pregnancies and the stress and grief of her father's death in 2006 contributed to the spread of her vitilago

Jasmiena estimates that 80 per cent of her body is affected by vitilago patches. She has suffered cruel remarks from strangers in the street which has contributed to low self-esteem and depression

She said: 'I spoke on the group about an experience I had recently where a little boy asked why my skin was this way, and before I could reply his mum said, "It's because God doesn't love her." The support I got after posting about it was amazing.

Jasmiena, pictured left, before her vitilago spread to her face, said: 'I've learned that I am beautiful, and it's time to celebrate myself'

'I realised that I am alive, but I wasn't truly living – I was hiding. 

'I posted the selfie because I've learned that I am beautiful, and it's time to celebrate myself.'

According to charity The Vitiligo Society, around 50 per cent of people develop the condition before they turn 20 – although it can happen at any time.

For Jasmiena, it began when she was 13 and noticed small, pale patches forming on her ears and thumbs.

But having never heard of vitiligo, she didn't think much of it at first but more patches gradually began to develop.

At 18, she was taken to a dermatologist and officially diagnosed with vitiligo – but at this point, the condition still only affected small sections of her limbs.

Then, the tragic death of her father in 2006 triggered a rapid spread.

Though doctors are still unsure as to exactly what causes vitiligo, extreme stress can prompt its development in those who have a genetic predisposition to the condition.

Jasmiena also believes the hormonal changes in her body during her pregnancies with Adam, nine and Imaan, four, led to yet more pale patches springing up.

Because the white patches on her skin have no natural protection against the sun, she must wear factor 50 SPF cream every day, or cover up using a scarf.

'I don't go outside much in the day. I tend to play with the children in the evening when it's not as sunny,' she said.

Jasmiena with her father not long before his death in 2006. Not much is known about the causes of vitiligo but it is thought to be exacerbated by emotional strain and stress

Jasmiena, pictured with her husband Ebriahiem and children Adam, nine, and Imaan, four. A Facebook support group has encouraged the mother to 'stop hiding' and to publish photographs of herself

'I've suffered with depression because of the vitiligo. I used to think to myself, "What kind of mother am I? I can't even take my kids outside."'

Jasmiena's skin is so sensitive that she was even hospitalised as a result of sunburn earlier this year.

'I'd been on the beach with the children. I didn't notice my skin burning,' she recalled.

'But when I got home, I had a shower and started feeling burning pins and needles all over my body. It was excruciating.

'I ended up in hospital for a week being treated for my burns and given pain medication. I didn't realise something like sunburn could be so severe.'

Though she admits to still having 'down days,' Jasmiena has come to accept her condition since finding a support group on Facebook.

New Yorker Tiffany Posteraro, 24, was an inspiration to Jasmiena after she published these images of her vitiligo having got a tattoo to explain what the condition is called

Tiffany hit the headlines last month after publishing the above. Jasmiena now feels able to post photographs of herself online and the Facebook support group has helped her realise her beauty

One of her inspirations is another member of the group, Tiffany Posteraro, who hit headlines last year with the poignant tattoo reading 'it's called vitiligo' she got down her arm to educate strangers on her condition.

New Yorker Miss Posteraro, 24, got the inking after finally ditching the thick foundation she'd spent years covering her skin with, realising she had nothing to hide.

Stuck for someone who understands how she feels in her real life, Jasmiena said she has found her new online friends to be an invaluable source of support.

Encouraged by their kind words, she found the strength to post her first ever selfie online last week.

'That group has been the best thing for me,' she said. 'It's helped me feel beautiful – and I want others out there struggling with their confidence to know that they're beautiful too.'