How this woman's story of living with and healing her bad acne inspired South Africans

When Tshego Mokate counts her blessings, she definitely includes her glowing skin. After all the anguish she went through every day and night, she is so grateful that her skin is now radiant and flawless.

Her transformation trended on Twitter after she took part in the challenge, ‘How it started and How it is going’ challenge by posting a before and after picture of her face followed by a thread about her journey to getting flawless skin.

This six-month long transformation had Twitter users awed and by the end of the day, her name was at the top of the trends list. 

An emotional Tshego tells Drum. “Tears are rolling down my face as I speak to you, everything is so overwhelming.’’

Tshego Mokate lived through months of bad acne and heartache.

18-year-old Tshego Mokate now has flawless skin.

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The 18-year-old from Tembisa went through a very painful period when her acne started getting worse in 2019.

She tells DRUM that like any other teenager, she was trying to treat her acne and tried a Paris product.

“I started using a well-known brand after seeing raving reviews about their facial mask on social media,” Tshego says. This is when her pimples got hectic.

Within two weeks of using it, her acne had become worse. “At this point, I was trying different things  recommended by people. I tried everything just to get my skin to at least go back to what it was," she says. But that was not the case. “My confidence took a knock. Everything was just getting worse.”

It was until she decided to see a skin doctor that things started getting better. She was put on Oratane treatment for six months.

“Within three months I was already seeing the difference,” she says. She was put at ease knowing that a professional doctor was helping her and she also joined a Facebook group for people with similar skin problems and on treatment.

Even as she was going through treatment, her doctor told her that things were about to get worse before they got better. 

“My doctor said I should prepare myself mentally and emotionally for all that emotional pain because it was going to get even worse,” she says.  

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“I’m so glad that all this happened during lockdown because I don’t think I would have been able to go out in the streets,” the matric student says.

Now all she is getting is compliments about her flawless skin.

“It is so nice to get random compliments from strangers hearing that I look beautiful,” she says.

that she is done with her treatment, she is very careful about what she puts on her skin.

“People will recommend different products but I strongly advice anyone with skin problems to consult and get professional help. Just because it works for someone it doesn’t not mean it will work for you,” she continues.