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Hi there,
Its really good that youve decided to talk about these feelings. It sounds like things other people have said to you have made you feel more self-conscious. Its not ok for anyone to tease you about your appearance.
Im concerned to hear that your family are taunting you about how you look. When they are making negative comments about you and saying things to make you feel bad, it is a type of emotional abuse. It sounds as though people may be bullying you about this. If this happens at school teachers have a responsibility to try and prevent it, so talking to a teacher might be a good idea. Have a look at our bullying page for more ideas about how to deal with this.
Lots of young people tell us they feel unhappy about the way they look, or have a certain part of their body that they feel self-conscious about. If you have a look at the body Image message board you will see messages from people who have similar feelings, and read about how people cope with this. You can also read more about this on our how you look page. We also have ideas about how to build your self esteem.
Some people find it helps to make a list of things that they like about themselves they dont always have to do with your appearance, it could be something youre good at or a quality like kindness, or patience.
You have been disappointed when you have tried to find ways to change your appearance. I cant give you advice about laser treatment as Im not medically trained. Its possible that there may be suggestions online that are actually dangerous, so its important to get medical advice before trying anything else. Im wondering if your Body Dysmorphic Disorder has been professionally diagnosed. A doctor may be able to tell you more about support that is available so have a think about visiting your doctor.
You can also talk more with a ChildLine counsellor online or on the phone about how youre feeling, and possible options that you have. Thanks again for your letter.
Take care,
Sam
You can talk privately to a counsellor online or call 0800 1111 for free.
You can ask me about anything you want, there's nothing too big or small. I read every single letter but I can only answer a few each week. My replies are published here on my page.