Daisy Edgar-Jones Says Painful Periods and Acne Led to Endometriosis Diagnosis

British actress Daisy Edgar-Jones has revealed that she struggled for years with severe acne and debilitating menstrual pain before finally being diagnosed with Endometriosis at the age of 24.

The 27-year-old star, who rose to global fame through the television series Normal People and most recently appeared in the film Twisters, shared her personal health journey in a video released on March 3 as part of Vogue’s Beauty Secrets series.

In the video, Edgar-Jones spoke candidly about how hormonal issues linked to endometriosis affected her skin, her health, and her confidence throughout her teenage years and early twenties.

Years of Painful Symptoms Before Diagnosis

According to the actress, the symptoms began in her late teens but went unexplained for years.

She recalled experiencing extremely painful periods along with persistent and severe acne that was difficult to treat.

“For so long I had such painful periods and really volatile skin,” Edgar-Jones explained. “It was definitely a relief to find out why I was going through it.”

Like many people living with endometriosis, she initially believed the pain was simply a normal part of menstruation. The condition often goes undiagnosed for years because symptoms are commonly dismissed or misunderstood.

For Edgar-Jones, finally receiving a diagnosis at 24 helped make sense of the physical struggles she had endured for much of her young adulthood.

How Hormones Affected Her Skin

The actress also revealed that her acne was closely linked to her hormonal fluctuations.

“I have very sensitive skin and had acne my whole teenage life,” she said, adding that inflammation and breakouts often reflected what was happening inside her body.

She described her skin as a “barometer” for her overall health — often flaring up when hormonal changes triggered pain or other symptoms.

Because her skin was so reactive, she said very few skincare products worked for her. One product line that consistently helped was from the French skincare brand La Roche-Posay.

“The only thing that didn’t irritate my skin was this La Roche-Posay,” she said in the video, recommending it for others with sensitive skin.

The Emotional Impact of Acne

Edgar-Jones also spoke about how acne affected her self-image during the early years of her acting career.

She admitted that when her breakouts were at their worst, they were “all she could see” when looking in the mirror. The experience made her self-conscious, especially as her public profile grew.

Over time, learning more about the hormonal causes behind her skin problems helped shift her perspective. Rather than seeing acne as purely cosmetic, she came to understand it as a sign of deeper health issues.

Understanding Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the womb, often affecting organs such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The condition affects roughly 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth worldwide.

Common symptoms include:

• Severe pelvic pain

• Extremely painful or heavy periods

• Pain during intercourse

• Fatigue and inflammation

• Fertility challenges

• Hormonal skin issues such as adult acne

Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms vary widely and often overlap with other conditions. In many cases, patients wait seven to eight years on average before receiving a confirmed diagnosis. The most reliable diagnostic method remains laparoscopic surgery.

Speaking Out About a “Taboo” Topic

Now that she has a diagnosis and better understanding of her condition, Edgar-Jones is using her platform to raise awareness about menstrual health.

By discussing painful periods and hormonal acne openly, she hopes to challenge the stigma that still surrounds reproductive health issues.

“It’s about listening to your body,” she explained, emphasizing that extreme pain should not simply be accepted as a normal part of being a woman.

Her openness places her among several public figures advocating for greater awareness and faster diagnosis of endometriosis, including Alexa Chung and many other.

Life and Career Moving Forward

Despite the challenges of managing a chronic condition, Edgar-Jones continues to build a thriving career in film and television.

She currently has several high-profile projects in development, including a film adaptation of the bestselling novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and a new adaptation of Sense and Sensibility.

By sharing her story, the actress hopes others experiencing similar symptoms will seek answers and feel less alone.

Her message is simple: pain that interferes with everyday life should never be ignored — and understanding your body can be the first step toward getting the help you need.