u/No_Cycle_9345

Hi everyone,
I’m fairly new to the dating scene and don't have much experience yet. I recently went on my first real date with a guy (we’ve had two dates so far) and would love to get some perspective from this community.

Before our first meeting, I texted him to let him know about my skin texture so he'd know what to expect. It was already dark outside when we met. At one point, he asked about my hands and asked directly if they were burned because they looked different.

In that moment, it made me really uncomfortable and insecure. In hindsight, though, it turned out he didn't mean it maliciously at all: he actually has a burn scar on a usually hidden spot on his arm, so he was just trying to find common ground and connect with me. At date time he said they just look normal.

I’m honestly really proud of myself because I directly asked him if he had a problem with my skin. He said no and went on to say a lot of really sweet things, like how it makes me unique. Sure, that’s not necessarily the main thing you want to make you unique, but I understood what he meant by it. When saying goodbye, he even kissed my hands and told me I was really beautiful.

What’s still on my mind, though, is how affectionate he's been from the start. On our very first date, he held my hand and was generally quick to get physical and touchy.
On one hand, it feels nice to have physical contact and know someone finds you attractive. On the other hand, it feels like everything is moving a bit too fast for me emotionally. Because it’s moving so quickly, I can't fully enjoy it yet and I’m not sure what to make of it.

Has anyone here experienced something similar while dating with Ichthyosis? Is this kind a good sign, or should I be cautious?

Thanks in advance for your advice! 🫶🏼

Hi everyone,
I'm stepping back into the dating world, and I could really use some perspective or shared experiences from this community.

For context, I’ve only ever been in one long-term relationship (3 years). While that relationship wasn't great for me overall in the end, it was actually amazing for my skin confidence. My ex never saw my Ichthyosis as a problem at all. He actively helped me with it, accepted it completely, and made me feel 100% like myself around him.

Now that I’m putting myself out there again, I'm realizing he is the only man I’ve ever shared this part of my life with. I have zero experience navigating this with anyone else, which makes me a bit nervous about how dates will go, especially when it comes to physical touch and whether we'll end up touching at all. I actually have a date coming up soon. I decided to send him a short, relaxed text beforehand to let him know about my skin, and his reaction was super positive and sweet! Even though that went really well, I still have some lingering anxieties in the back of my head.

I’d love to ask: For those of you who have Ichthyosis (or have dated someone who does), what has your dating experience been like? How did you navigate touch and physical closeness with new people in the beginning?

Thanks so much in advance for any thoughts or experiences you can share! 💌