When she was 18 months old, Amanda Redman suffered severe burns to much of her body, and still has scars on her left arm from the incident. Now a successful actress, known for her work on the TV shows “New Tricks” and “The Good Karma Hospital,” she shared what it’s been like to live and work with visible scars, and how she cares for her skin.
Can you talk a little bit about the injuries you suffered as a child?
I suffered 80 percent burns to my body and face when I was 18 months old and subsequently underwent many surgical procedures until the age of 5.
What treatments were most effective in healing your injuries?
The treatments I had included numerous skin grafts, but I was too young to know what was the most effective.
How did this experience shape who you are today?
As I’ve never known anything else but being scarred, it’s bound to have shaped me as a person. My scars have never been a hindrance as my parents brought me up to be proud of everything about myself and NEVER to hide them away.
Do you use any products to take special care of your scars?
In the sun I have to use SPF 70 extremely regularly as I only have 2 layers of epidermis instead of 7 on parts of my arm, which blisters easily.
How do you prioritize your skin health on a daily basis?
My skin health is important to me and I have a daily routine from which I never waver, but I do change products on a regular basis to keep up with what’s innovative.