While in most circles Karina Irby is known as the body-positive creator and CEO of the Moana Bikini line, the 28-year-old has also gained fans because she is not afraid to talk about her struggle with eczema.
And now, the Port Macquarie native has come clean about how she has completely transformed her eczema-prone skin in just three weeks.
Writing on her Instagram page, Karina explained how it took just $20 to clear up her eczema. So what’s her secret?
Bikini designer and CEO of Moana Bikini, Karina Irby (pictured), recently shared the one thing that has helped to clear up her chronic eczema
According to the bikini designer (pictured), potassium permanganate crystals, which you can ‘pick up from your local chemist for less than $20’, could be the answer
‘I can’t believe I’m even publicly posting this,’ Karina posted, alongside a photograph of her legs before and after using the crystals (before and after)
According to the bikini designer, potassium permanganate crystals, which you can ‘pick up from your local chemist for less than $20’, could be the answer.
‘I can’t believe I’m even publicly posting this,’ Karina posted, alongside a photograph of her legs before and after using the crystals.
‘This is a big deal for me and I even contemplated NOT sharing my three week eczema transformation out of pure embarrassment.’
However, in spite of her shame, the 28-year-old said she decided to because of her own experience as a teenager, ‘struggling with my skin’, without any help.
‘I would have killed to have seen another human talking about eczema, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do here,’ she said.
Karina (pictured) said that while originally she was too embarrassed to post the photograph, she quickly thought back to her teenage years and decided that she needed to help others
‘I would have killed to have seen another human talking about eczema, so that’s exactly what I’m going to do here,’ Karina (right) told her 900,000-strong followers
Karina went on to say that she was ‘recently educated by a clinical dermatologist’ who told her that she had allowed her eczema to ‘evolve into a chronic, severe condition’.
‘I was pretty upset and shocked that I’d let that happen,’ she said.
‘Honestly, I was just uneducated and didn’t know how to treat my skin properly.’
For the past three weeks, the bikini designer said that she has been soaking her legs for 10 minutes every morning and evening in potassium permanganate crystals.
She said that ‘this apparently kills any bad infection in the skin that’s keeping my eczema from healing properly’.
Concluding her post, Karina wrote: ‘I hope by me showing off my experience I can help shed a little light for others who after suffering.’
Since she shared the photograph on Instagram on Friday morning, the bikini designer (pictured) has received a wave of support, with others saying they can’t wait to try the crystals
Since she shared the photograph on Instagram on Friday morning, the bikini designer has received a wave of support, with others saying they can’t wait to try the crystals.
‘Wow! That’s a huge difference. And thank you for sharing your story. Two out of my three children have eczema and I’m always searching for and trying new things to ease their pain,’ one mother posted.
‘LOVE potassium permanganate for pompholyx eczema on my hands,’ another added.
‘It does stain my skin a tan colour but love that you only need a tiny bit. Apple cider vinegar soak also helps a tonne.’