I have sensitive, eczema-prone skin – here's how I finally got it under control…
Eczema was something I thought belonged in my past, until it came creeping back last year with a hot, itchy vengeance.
I've tried ditching make-up, giving up booze and whittling my skincare routine down to the very basics, all in the hope of making my skin feel normal again, with varying degrees of success.
6
I'm not exceptional, either, with one in 10 adult Brits suffering from atopic eczema.*
Here's all I've learned…
SEEING RED
My childhood was characterised by cracked hands and sore knees, but in my teens, my eczema disappeared.
However, late last year, I started to notice red, itchy patches reappearing.
In weeks, my skin transformed from oily and clear to dry and chapped, leaving me clueless as to why.
There are several types of eczema, but atopic eczema like mine is the most common.
It's in the same family as hay fever, food allergies and asthma. 'While most cases are caused by genetics, lifestyle choices can influence the degree of eczema,' says dermatologist and medical director of
EUDELO Dr Stefanie Williams.
Treatment can vary, so seek medical advice if you're unsure.
TRIGGER POINTS
At first, I was convinced my flare-up was down to me overloading my skin with cosmetics. But I realised something else was at play.
'Eczema flare-ups can be triggered by stress, allergens, changes in weather, harsh skincare products, sweating and infections,' says dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips.
I began to notice a pattern between drinking alcohol and waking up with inflamed skin, so I reduced my intake, and I've seen it worsen if I'm stressed, too.
'Stress is a well-known trigger for up to 70% of patients with eczema,' says dermatologist Dr Alia Ahmed.
Keeping notes on my phone to record the weather, what I've eaten and which products I've used (including soap, washing detergent and perfume) has been useful in helping to pinpoint possible triggers.
SCRATCH CYCLE
The urge to scratch itchy eczema-prone skin is unbearable. I've tried rubbing, fanning, prodding — all of which are generally discouraged – and even resorted to full-blown scratching.
'If you scratch your skin, you can release histamine,' says Cadogan Clinic dermatologist Dr Aveen Connolly.
This can worsen the itch and result in broken skin and infections. 'It causes thickened, leathery skin and discolouration or scarring in the longterm,' adds Dr Phillips.
Cooling methods can help, but avoid applying ice directly to skin, as it can cause burns, while using a fan can feel drying.
'Instead, keep your moisturiser in the fridge, as it will cool the skin, but isn't as aggressive,' says Dr Connolly.
Scratch attacks used to wake me in the night, but taking an antihistamine, like fexofenadine, before bed has helped.
And if you can't resist the urge, tap!
'Tapping reduces the possibility of broken skin, minimising risk of infection,' says Dr Connolly.
SHELF IT
'Opt for fragrance-free formulas, as allergies to fragrances are common for eczema-prone skin,' says Dr Williams.
'However, avoid products containing limonene and/or linalool, as these commonly used fragrance replacements can be as allergenic,' she adds.
I use La Roche-Posay Lipikar Soothing Cream Wash, £21, which feels gentle and non-irritating on the skin.
'As for skincare, it's important to repair the skin barrier by using moisturisers rich in emollients, such as ceramides,' says Dr Phillips.
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment, £10.50, forms a nourishing, protective barrier over your skin, but its thick texture takes a bit of getting used to.
Cetraben Cream, £6.05
I also love Cetraben Cream, £6.05, which feels lightweight but deeply hydrating.
'Pick a facial cleanser with a hydrating emollient formula, instead of a foaming facial cleanser, which can be drying,' says Dr Williams. My favourite is calming Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, £12.75.
Make-up no longer sits well or feels comfortable on my skin, so I've reduced how much I wear, and I've learned to love my low-maintenance routine.
Depending on the condition of your flare-up, there are some make-up product options for those experiencing eczema.
'Some hypo-allergenic make-up brands, such as Oxygenetix, are well-tolerated by atopic eczema sufferers,' says Dr Williams.
Unfortunately, none of the above will nip eczema in the bud entirely, and it's always worth seeking advice from your GP if your symptoms persist.
This might involve prescribing anti-inflammatory steroid creams, which can help regain control of symptoms.
'Just be wary of common mistakes, such as starting prescription creams too late after experiencing symptoms, stopping steroid creams abruptly rather than gradually, and using low-strength creams for prolonged periods,' says Dr Williams.
The bottom line? Your doctor knows best.
*Allergy UK
How To Save Money On Beauty Buys
IF your purse is feeling tighter than ever before and you're looking to save cash on your make-up routine, have you ever thought of trying out beauty dupes?
Here are five of the best recommended beauty buys that are almost identical to the posh versions, but at a fraction of the price.
FACE BASE If you can't afford Charlotte Tilbury 's £52 Magic Cream, why not try a dupe that costs just £5.49 from Superdrug?
TONE IT UP If Drunk Elephant's £62 Protini Cream is out of your price range, you'll need to check out the new dupe in Home Bargains.
TINTING IT With Fenty's game-changer skin tint costing £29, a popular supermarket's affordable alternative might just be the thing for you.
GET COVERED At £29 for a Tarte concealer, the new Primark dupe is much more affordable at just £3.50.
SPRAY YAY For those wanting to smell fresh without the price tag, Aldi's new Prada and Chloe perfume dupes cost a fraction of the price.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Over half of Brits feel lonely at least once a month… but are ashamed to admit it, study shows
Gen Z feels lonelier than any generation—yet hides it behind screens and silence daily NOT ALONE Over half of Brits feel lonely at least once a month… but are ashamed to admit it, study shows Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) OVER half of Brits feel lonely at least once a month – but are ashamed to admit it. A poll of 2,000 adults revealed 56 per cent would rarely or never consider talking to someone else about how isolated they felt. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The research was commissioned by audio brand, Pure Credit: SWNS Reasons for this included not wanting to burden others (37 per cent), not believing anyone else will understand (21 per cent), and not wanting to appear vulnerable (21 per cent). This may be a reflection on the strength of their support networks, as a quarter (24 per cent) described theirs as lacking – and a further 13 per cent didn't have one at all. Instead, those who feel lonely are likely to distract themselves through entertainment, such as watching TV (47 per cent), going on social media (22 per cent), or listening to the radio (19 per cent). The research was commissioned by audio brand, Pure, which is partnering with Marmalade Trust, a Bristol-based charity dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and helping people build meaningful connections. As part of this partnership and in support of Loneliness Awareness Week, Pure will be donating 150 radios to individuals across the UK who are looking for support through a period of loneliness. Dr Lalitaa [COR], behaviouralist psychologist and expert in emotional wellbeing, commented: 'Loneliness remains a taboo subject, often shrouded in shame and stigma. 'But human connection is a basic psychological need – one that's increasingly difficult to fulfil in today's fast-paced, digital world. 'It's encouraging to see initiatives like this that provide simple, tangible comfort and help people feel part of something again.' Tara Fisher, COO from Marmalade Trust added: "Loneliness is a natural human emotion that we are all likely to experience in our lifetime. 'But there is still a stigma around loneliness, which means a significant portion of the population are reluctant to speak about these feelings to others – either because they don't feel they have anyone to talk to or are worried about doing so.' Despite these feelings of shame around loneliness, nearly eight in 10 (79 per cent) acknowledged it as a common phenomenon among the general population. Women were also found to feel lonelier than men – with only 16 per cent of women saying they never feel lonely, compared to 26 per cent of men. But perceptions about the generations most affected were not entirely accurate – with 19 per cent of all respondents believing the Silent Generation (born 1928-1945) is impacted the most by loneliness. However, Gen Zs (born 1996-2011) specifically reported feeling lonelier than any other age group, with one third feeling this way a few times a week and 11 per cent even experiencing this every single day. This compares to 19 per cent of the whole population dealing with this a few times a week and only six per cent every day. Worries about being judged (25 per cent) and dismissed (21 per cent) were also higher among Gen Zs – as were desires to socialise more (53 per cent) and make more friends (42 per cent). This compares to the 'famously lonely' Silent Generation – four in 10 of whom reported usually only going an hour maximum without speaking to someone else. A fifth of all those asked agreed on one day as the limit for not speaking to another person before feeling lonely – yet 23 per cent go this long, or longer, without talking to anyone regularly. Regionally, Londoners were most likely to report feeling lonely – with 33 per cent of those living in the capital saying they feel lonely at least a few times a week. Nearly four in 10 (39 per cent) of all respondents also claimed to feel lonelier now than they did five years ago, primarily because it's now harder to meet people. Other reasons included changes in personal relationships (23 per cent), financial stress (22 per cent), and lower self-esteem (20 per cent). The top locations people reported feeling lonely were also established as at home alone (59 per cent), in a crowd (27 per cent), and when having a meal by themselves (26 per cent). Perhaps to stave off this lonely feeling, over half (52 per cent) are more likely to listen to the radio when at home alone, according to data. Other than listening to the news and their favourite music, 38 per cent utilise their broadcast boxes for background noise (38 per cent), company (20 per cent), and making the house feel less quiet (19 per cent). A further 16 per cent specified listening to the radio helps them to feel less lonely, with 15 per cent liking to hear the sound of other people's voices, and 13 per cent enjoying being part of the conversation. Stations providing the best company were also identified as pop music (30 per cent), oldies music (24 per cent), and talk radio stations (21 per cent). Hubert Eiter, spokesperson for Pure, which is donating £5 for every Pure radio sold between June 9 – July 9, 2025 in support of Marmalade Trust, said: 'Pure has been active in supporting loneliness charities over many years and we are proud to partner with the Marmalade Trust this year. 'It's great to see that everyday listening can bring a lot of comfort to people, as it has the power to immediately make a room feel livelier and less quiet – we love the fact that radio is able to provide some company for those who feel lonely from time to time.'
Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits experience loneliness every month - but are too ashamed to admit it
New research has found that nearly four in 10 Brits feel lonelier now than they did five years ago, with those who feel lonely likely to distract themselves through entertainment Over half of Brits experience loneliness at least once a month – yet feel too embarrassed to admit it. Almost four in 10 confessed to feeling more isolated now than they did five years ago. A survey of 2,000 adults disclosed that nearly two thirds of Brits would rarely or never contemplate discussing their feelings of isolation. Reasons for this include not wanting to impose on others, doubting anyone else will comprehend, and reluctance to show vulnerability. Instead, those who feel lonely are likely to distract themselves through entertainment, such as watching telly, browsing social media, or tuning into the radio. The research was commissioned by audio brand, Pure, which is collaborating with Marmalade Trust, a Bristol-based charity committed to raising awareness of loneliness and helping people forge meaningful connections. As part of this collaboration and in support of Loneliness Awareness Week, Pure will be donating 150 radios to individuals across the UK who are seeking support during a period of loneliness. Dr Lalitaa, a behavioural psychologist and expert in emotional wellbeing, remarked: "Loneliness remains a taboo subject, often shrouded in shame and stigma. It's encouraging to see initiatives like this that provide simple, tangible comfort and help people feel part of something again. Tara Fisher, COO from Marmalade Trust, commented: "Loneliness is a natural human emotion that we are all likely to experience in our lifetime. "There is still a stigma around loneliness, which means a significant portion of the population are reluctant to speak about these feelings to others – either because they don't feel they have anyone to talk to or are worried about doing so." Despite these feelings of shame around loneliness, eight in 10 acknowledged it as a common feeling among the general population. A fifth of all those asked agreed a day is the limit for not speaking to another person before feeling lonely. However, the study emphasised that women were found to feel lonelier than men, with only 16% of women saying they never feel lonely, compared to 26% of men. Gen Z, those born between 1996-2011, also reported feeling lonelier than any other age group, with a third feeling lonely more than once a week, while 11% said they experienced loneliness every day. Regionally, Londoners were most likely to report feeling lonely with 33% of those living in the capital saying they feel lonely at least a few times a week. The top locations people reported feeling lonely were also established as at home alone, in a crowd, and when having a meal by themselves. According to data from people often listen to the radio when they're home alone. Aside from tuning in for news and their favourite music, 38% use their radios for background noise, 20% for company, and 19% to make the house feel less quiet. An additional 16% stated that listening to the radio helps them feel less lonely, with 15% enjoying hearing other people's voices, and 13% liking being part of the conversation. The stations providing the best company were identified as pop music (30%), oldies music (24%), and talk radio stations (21%). Hubert Eiter, spokesperson for Pure, which is donating £5 for every Pure radio sold between June 9 – July 9, 2025 in support of Marmalade Trust, said: "Pure has been active in supporting loneliness charities over many years and we are proud to partner with the Marmalade Trust this year. "It's great to see that everyday listening can bring a lot of comfort to people, as it has the power to immediately make a room feel livelier and less quiet – we love the fact that radio is able to provide some company for those who feel lonely from time to time."
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
New ‘poo pills' could flush out killer bugs that kill one million Brits each year
Find out how superbugs develop and spread below POO KNEW? New 'poo pills' could flush out killer bugs that kill one million Brits each year Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SUPERBUGS, or drug-resistant infections, are projected to cause more than 39 million deaths between now and 2050. This means that, on average, over three people are expected to die from antibiotic-resistant infections every minute. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Scientists focused on the gut to kill superbug infections Credit: Getty But now UK doctor are attempting to clear the number of dangerous superbug infections by using pills containing freeze-dried faeces. The "poo pills" contain stool samples from health donors, packed with good bacteria. And the idea comes from previous data that suggests superbugs can be flushed out of the bowel and replaced with a mix of healthy gut bacteria. Dr Blair Merrick, who has been testing the pills at St Guys and Thomas' hospitals, said the focus is on the bowels which are "the biggest reservoir of antibiotic resistance in humans". The bowel is considered a significant reservoir for these resistant bacteria, and from there they can cause trouble in places such as the urinary tract or bloodstream. Dr Merrick added: "So there's a lot in 'can you get rid of them from the gut?" Currently, people with recurrent illness caused by hard-to-treat bacterium Clostridium difficile can be offered faecal transplants. Scientists noticed they also had the potential to get rid of superbugs. In a new study, published in the Journal of Infection, researchers focused on 41 patients who had an infection caused by drug-resistant bacteria in the past six months. They were given pills made from faeces which people had donated to a stool bank. What is Klebsiella pneumonia? Each stool sample was tested to ensure it didn't contain and harmful bugs. Undigested food was removed, and then it was freeze dried into a powder. The powder, contained inside a pill, can then pass through the stomach unharmed and reach the intestines, where it then dissolves. Twenty of the participants were given three sets of capsules on three consecutive days, while the rest received placebo pills. For those who took the capsules , the donor bacteria was detectable in their gut flora a month later. Dr Merrick told the BBC: "It's very exciting. There's a real shift from 20 years ago, where all bacteria and viruses were assumed to do you harm; to now where we realise they are completely necessary to our overall health." To help avoid getting superbugs, the NHS recommends practising good hygiene - wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating, after using the toilet, and after coughing or sneezing. Use antibiotics responsibly - avoid taking antibiotics for viral infections like colds or the flu, as they won't work. Even if you feel better, finish all of your prescribed medication to ensure the infection is fully treated. And don't share antibiotics - sharing can be harmful and can lead to resistance. Also, take preventative measures when travelling - choose food from reliable sources, and ensure food is properly cooked and handled, avoid drinking water that may be contaminated, and make sure you are up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations before travelling.
