Burn victim wants face mask to hide scars

Teenage burn victim, Alecia King, is reaching out to medical professionals and the general public for assistance in purchasing, consulting on, and installing a transparent face mask. She believes this mask will help normalise her appearance and minimise her facial scarring.

Eighteen-year-old Alecia was doused with gasolene and set ablaze while sleeping at a relative's house in Redwood, St Catherine, last August. Her ex-boyfriend, Antwone Grey, was charged with the gruesome incident and is currently in police custody.

"My burns have severe scarring, and they are tremendously thick. A 3D-printed mask for burns can help slow down the process of thick scarring. Watching my face change from stage to stage is traumatising for me. It has been one of the worst parts of my journey. When it wasn't properly healed, it looked a lot better as the scarring was not there. I am asking anyone who can make a small donation to help purchase it to please keep me in mind. I just want to feel normal again," she said.

A transparent face mask, sometimes called a transparent facial orthosis, is a see-through mask recommended for facial burns to reduce the risk of scarring or forming scar tissue. The mask is typically worn for 18-20 hours every day until the skin graft is mature, which takes about eight months to two years.

"The mask will bring back a sense of normalcy to me and help boost my confidence. Honestly, I don't know the cost of the mask, but I am really hoping to get it. Before my attack, I never used filters on my pictures or videos, but now I do as my confidence level is somewhat low. With the mask, I wouldn't have to use filters. People may say the mask is still not my real face, but I think it will make me feel better. When I look in the mirror, my scars would not be the first thing I notice on my face," King said.

King, who has several upcoming operations, plans to become a nurse. Initially, she aspired to join the Jamaica Defence Force but changed her mind after her life was miraculously saved at the Shriners Burn Center in Texas, United States of America.

"I want to go to college and interact with other students without being the centre of attention because of my physical appearance. I don't want the stares. Sometimes I am on the road and meet people who follow me on social media, and I get really sad after they are gone because I am not sure what they think about my appearance," she said.