Star Wars actress and all-round excellent human Daisy Ridley has opened up about her struggles with endometriosis, posting a message to Instagram about this not-at-all-fun condition that affects 10% of women. “At 15 I was diagnosed with endometriosis,” she wrote. “One laparoscopy, many consultations and 8 years down the line, the pain was back (more mild this time!) and my skin was THE WORST. I’ve tried everything: products, antibiotics, more products, more antibiotics, and all that did was [leave] my body in a bit of a mess.”
She says that eight years after she was first diagnosed with endo – and after dealing with the shitty, shitty skin problems it brought on – she’s *finally* been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, and that’s why her struggle has been so “bad”.
“I can safely say feeling so self conscious has left my confidence in tatters,” she wrote. “I hate wearing make up but I currently don’t want to leave the house without it on. HOWEVER PROGRESS IS BEING MADE!”
Ridley joins a growing number of celebs – including Lena Dunham, Whoopi Goldberg, and Halsey – speaking publicly about their struggles; one of them, Indian-born American actress, author and model Padma Lakshmi, is even the co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America. And every time a celebrity speaks about it, the more light is shed on this vastly misunderstood disease.
Ridley ends her message with a call-out to anyone suffering anything, endo or not, to seek the help they need.
“Go to a doctor; pay for a specialist; get your hormones tested, get allergy testing; keep on top of how your body is feeling and don’t worry about feeling like a hypochondriac,” she says.
“From your head to the tips of your toes we only have one body, let us all make sure ours [is] working in tip top condition, and [get] help if it’s needed.”
