“I Didn’t Recognise Myself”: Woman Shares How Pregnancy Hormones Drastically Changed Her Face

 

A Malaysian woman has gone viral after candidly sharing how her face became “completely unrecognisable” due to extreme hormonal changes during pregnancy.

Farah Faizal, a marketing manager, posted unfiltered before-and-after photos of herself on X (formerly Twitter), revealing the stark transformation her face underwent while expecting her second child.

In the first image, Farah appears radiant with clear skin and a youthful glow. But in the second, her face is visibly swollen, covered in cystic, acne-like bumps, with deep lines etched along her cheeks and forehead. Her nose also appeared significantly larger due to swelling.

“I looked like a different person. My face changed 100 per cent,” Farah wrote.

According to her, the skin changes began about two months into the pregnancy. What started as mild acne quickly turned into painful pustules and persistent redness that resembled a sunburn.

“Then slowly, my smile lines became deeper, and my face started to look like that of an old person,” she explained in her viral thread.
“Lines appeared on my forehead and between my brows. The closer I got to my due date, the worse it became.”

Despite not experiencing common symptoms like morning sickness, Farah said the facial transformation took a toll on her self-esteem.

“I broke down and asked my friend, ‘Why do other pregnant women look so beautiful and glowing? Why am I the only one who looks like this?’” she admitted.

Farah also opened up about the emotional impact of comparing herself to glowing influencers on social media. She credited her husband and best friend for helping her navigate the difficult moments.

“My husband kept telling me it was temporary and that I was still beautiful in his eyes. My best friend encouraged me to share my story to help others going through the same thing,” she said.

Farah gave birth in July and says her skin is now slowly recovering. She has started monthly laser treatments to help heal the damage, though she noted she’s still in the early stages of postpartum recovery.

Sharing her story with Sinar Daily, she said she hopes to raise awareness about the often-unspoken physical and emotional toll of pregnancy.

“I wish more people understood that pregnancy isn’t just about baby kicks and cute bumps. It’s about emotional, mental, and physical changes too—and every woman’s experience is valid,” she said.

Farah also had a message for men:

“Appreciate your wife. Her body is literally being sacrificed to bring your child into the world. And no, an epidural isn’t a cheat code.”