Sophia was fit and healthy. Until a common household irritant started destroying her body

Sophia Kim suddenly found her body covered in hives.

The swimwear designer had just moved to Darling Point, in Sydney’s east, in September 2023 when she realised changes were happening in her body.

Mould poisoning can cause numerous issues including body aches, headaches, skin rashes, dry coughs and, in rare cases shortness of breath, according to Medical News Today.

The TikTok star, originally from California, was otherwise healthy when she started getting sick regularly.

“I moved in September in 2023, I started getting hives and I just didn’t understand what was going on. I went to Urgent Care because it got really bad. It just came out of nowhere,” Sophia told 7NEWS.com.au on Tuesday.

Sophia said she was given steroid cream from doctors, which initially gave her temporary relief. But still struggled with fatigue and other unexplained symptoms.

“(The hives) kind of subsided. But my mum made a comment saying, ‘It’s odd, you’ve been sick all the time’. So, it really lowered my immune system.

“So, not only did I have hives. I was always tired the entire year.”

Kim started putting two-and-two together, complaining about mould in the property. It wasn’t until the real estate sent cleaners that realised what a massive impact it was having on her health.

“I don’t think I realised how serious it was until the cleaner told me ‘hey, you need to move out’,” she said. “He saw the mould everywhere and said it wasn’t worth just cleaning it.”

After cleaning took place, the hives came back. Mould continued to get over her things, including designer shoes and her beloved guitar and case, a treasured item since childhood.

Kim decided to move out, renting a new place in the city’s northern suburbs. She was forced to deep clean all of her mould-affected items, before embarking on a healing journey for her body.

“It takes a while to detox. But the hives have gone away. So, it just goes to show you that it is 100 per cent from that apartment. Now that I’ve moved out, the symptoms are all gone,” Kim said.

“I think I am relieved I am out of there. Mould is really bad for you, especially if you’re exposed to it for a long time, I’ve relieved to know why my body was acting the way it did.”

On Tuesday, Australia’s leading biohacker Camilla Thompson appeared on Sunrise, speaking about toxic black mould.

“(Australia is) a breeding ground (for mould), is an ideal climate for cold and most of us are exposed to spores every day,” Thompson said.

“We actually poop out our mould spores, but 25 per cent of the population have a specific gene which we call the mould genes, which means somebody doesn’t know how to get rid of it.

“It starts creating havoc in our systems, our immune system, hormones, and our nervous system.

“You can get really sick.”

Thompson said it can hide in wall cavities, under floors and cupboards in the home.

“It is sometimes hard to find, mould — it is really clever,” she said.

“There are some great prevention things we can do; every house needs a dehumidifier.

“You’ll be blown away by how much water you take out of them but definitely, dehumidifiers and air purifiers that take some of the spores out of the air with carbon filters.

“That makes it a much better environment for us to be in.”