Billy Corgan is embracing his "port wine" birthmark after trying to hide it his "whole life".
Billy Corgan has shown off his birthmark
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman, 57, revealed the birthmark - which covers parts of his hand, wrist and arm - in a powerful social media post as he urged his fans to "find peace with who you are".
He wrote on Instagram: "I'm a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us 'us.' "
He also shared a photo of "beautiful" model Carlotta Bertotti as an example of someone "with a birthmark who has embraced her 'difference' with grace".
He continued: "My point being that my whole life I've endeavoured to hide my 'port wine' birthmarks because as you can imagine I was teased unmercifully about them as a child.
"So much so that people who have known me for a decade are shocked when they finally 'see it'.
"And even now strangers will stop me on the street not because they recognize me but because they think something is wrong with me that requires medical attention.
"Plus the random questions: Is that a burn? Are you sick? Is it contagious? Does it hurt?
"So positive message for the day: Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because I would like to know that person and no one else."
According to the NHS, a port wine stain is a "vascular birthmark caused by abnormal development of blood vessels in the skin", sometimes referred to as a "capillary malformation"'.
Corgan's emotional post comes just days after he and his wife Chloe Mendal Corgan, 31, confirmed they are expecting their third baby together.
Chloe - who has kids Philomena Clementine, five, and Augustus, eight, with the 'Tonight Tonight' rocker - told People: "We are overjoyed to announce that our family is growing! It’s an exciting time for us, although unexpected!”
Her husband added: "While Augustus was overjoyed, Clementine, the younger of the two, asked if the baby was made already and shed a few tears of concern, which was honestly adorable.
"Now, both kids are beaming, and it makes it so much fun to share the joy of bringing more love into our family. We are truly blessed."
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