Charlie Michael Baker, 18, first received dermal fillers in his chin, cheeks, lips, forehead and eyebrows in March 2024 after feeling insecure about his “bum chin”
An influencer was left looking “like an alien” after a bad reaction to dermal fillers sparked a skin condition, but he’s now discovered a wonder product that calms his inflamed and sore skin.
Social media and TV personality Charlie Michael Baker, 18, from Preston, who shares a home with his 20-year-old fiancé Oliver Worthington, first opted for dermal fillers in his chin, cheeks, lips, forehead, and eyebrows in March 2024 due to insecurities about his “bum chin”.
However, as the filler started to break down some three months later, Charlie, who prided himself on having clear skin, began to see small red spots emerge on his face – which quickly escalated into dry, red, and flaky patches across his body, leading to a diagnosis of psoriasis.
Charlie recounted waking up in “a puddle of dry skin and with blood patches on the bed sheets”, finding himself needing to moisturise “15 times a day” just to manage the excruciating symptoms.
Struggling with how he looked, Charlie’s mental wellbeing suffered a “massive knock”. He became the subject of stares as if he were “some sort of alien that’s just climbed down from space”, and faced “tens of thousands” of cruel comments online, including one comparing his flaky skin to Parmesan cheese.
Desperate after thousands of failed attempts with different skincare remedies, Charlie finally found success with Oregon Skincare in February, which has nearly sent his psoriasis into remission.
“At one point, I looked like an alien, my face was completely red,” said Charlie, who is also a writer. “I’m trying to advocate for those with psoriasis because people don’t know what it is, it’s not a disease, it’s not contagious.
“Anyone with psoriasis is beautiful, you’re not ugly, you’re not Parmesan cheese for a pasta – and if anyone says anything like that, message me, I’m here to help.”
In March 2024, Charlie, seeking to boost his self-esteem, received dermal fillers in various facial areas, including his chin, cheeks and lips, followed by Botox for his forehead and eyebrows.
“I originally went in for chin filler because I’ve got a bit of a bum chin and being in the public eye, it made me the most insecure person ever,” he said.
However, within three months, as the fillers started to dissolve, Charlie observed troublesome changes manifesting on his skin.
“It looked like spots at first, like little red spots, and they were just very dry,” he recounted. “Then it just started spreading and spreading and spreading.”
Charlie opened up about his harrowing journey as fillers dissolved through his system, sparking a chemical imbalance which led to the onset of psoriasis. He described the intense discomfort caused by the condition: “It burns, it’s so itchy, it’s all in my scalp – I would have to moisturise at least 15 times a day,” he recounted.
The affliction had a profound impact on his life, with Charlie noting: “When it was really bad, I would literally have to stand in the shower for 40 minutes.”
Even his bed became a testimony to his suffering: “When I go to bed, I’ll wake up in a puddle of dry skin and with blood patches on the bed sheets, we just throw them away.”
Charlie confessed that the stark change in his appearance dealt a severe blow to his mental health.
Suffering from a conspicuous red face, Charlie expressed how people’s reactions made him feel alienated: “My mental health took a massive knock from having this bright red face, having everyone turn their heads at me like I’m some sort of alien that’s just climbed down from space.”
He didn’t mince words about the toll it took on his personal and professional life: “It was a long period of mental disrepair for me and my career went on a full standstill. Honestly, I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”
His battles with psoriasis also unleashed a barrage of online criticism: “I remember one comment on one of my TikToks when my skin was really dry, someone wrote ‘how lovely, some Parmesan for the pasta’.
“I couldn’t believe someone would sit there and comment that. Now I don’t read the comments anymore.”
Charlie was diagnosed with psoriasis by his GP in July 2024 and expressed his distress, saying: “There’s no cure, so I’ve got this for the rest of my life, I have to suffer in pain until I die. It flares up when you’re older as well – can you imagine that wrinkly skin with crusty psoriasis? It’s going to be hell.”
He shared the struggle of having to avoid various products that irritate his skin, including laundry detergents, fragrances, and makeup. Initial treatments such as immune suppressants and steroid creams were unsuccessful for Charlie.
“I’ve tried thousands and thousands of skincare products but none of them worked,” he said.
His journey led him to discover Oregon Skincare in February, a brand focusing on scaly skin and scalp care. He praised their moisturiser and shampoo for significantly alleviating his condition.
“Oregon Skincare has been the only one that has actually tackled not only the dryness, but also the redness,” he said. “They are one of the best skincare products I’ve ever used on my skin, they sit very high on my dressing table.”
Thanks to Oregon Skincare, Charlie joyfully declared his scalp “psoriasis-free” and noted that his overall skin condition had improved immensely, placing him on the cusp of remission, while acknowledging the risk of potential flare-ups in the future.
“There are certain parts of my skin where it’s almost like my natural skin colour,” he explained.
“When psoriasis fully heals, which it can do and you can go into remission, you will still have little outlines of where the redness was which is kind of where it’s at for me. It’s the best it’s ever been in a whole year and the psoriasis on my face is completely gone.”