A young woman has shared how a debilitating skin condition shattered her confidence and prevented her from going to the gym, work or college.
Leilah Johnson, 20, says her battle with eczema, a type of dermatitis, has hurt her confidence and cost her thousands of dollars.
Since the age of three she has been battling severe allergies and the painful skin condition that leads to severely dry and itchy skin.
Ms Johnson said the skin condition, which affects her cheeks, lips, legs, chest and eyelids, came back “with a vengeance” a few months before she turned 18.
Since then, the student has chosen to study online to better manage her frequent flare-ups at home with several expensive creams.
Her eczema forced her to quit her retail job after a terrible flare-up left her eyes swollen shut and painful welts developed from head to toe.
She prefers wearing sports bras as they chafe her skin less, and she can’t wear smart “office-ready” clothes because her eczema cream stains and sticks to the fabric.
“People stare at me and when they make comments or suggestions about what I should do, I know they’re trying to help, but it’s frustrating and overwhelming because they don’t understand how many things I’ve tried.” I’ve tried everything!’ She said.
Leilah Johnson, 20, says her battle with eczema, a type of dermatitis, has hurt her confidence and cost her thousands of dollars in expensive treatments
Ms Johnson has struggled with severe allergies and the painful skin condition that causes severely dry and itchy patches of skin since she was three years old
Her skin, which is so thin and dry it feels like sandpaper, can also rip and tear when Ms Johnson undresses, adding to her discomfort.
“Ninety percent of the time, it’s awful and looks awful,” she said of her skin.
“Last year I had a really big circular eczema on my thigh that got so infected my leg turned red and I had to go back to the hospital.”
The 20-year-old was taken to hospital after her entire head became swollen and her lips and eyes were glued together from multiple painful blisters.
“I was in the hospital several times and tried everything. “I hate thinking about how much I’ve spent on creams and treatments over the years,” she said.
“I go to a specialist every few months but it’s disappointing because they only give me antihistamines and steroids which ruins my skin.”
Ms Johnson said the skin condition, which affects her cheeks, lips, legs and breast and eyelids, came back “with a vengeance” a few months before she turned 18
The 20-year-old was taken to hospital after her entire head became swollen and her lips and eyes were glued together from multiple painful blisters
The college student said she “don’t want to think about” how much she’s spent on different creams, saying she’s allergic to most of them.
Ms Johnson said her ongoing battle with her skin has impacted her weight and body image, as sweat makes her dermatitis worse.
It comes as a mother whose four-month-old baby had eczema so severe it left her pillow bleeding with a ‘miracle cure’ to give her baby some relief.
Millie Zweifel’s mother Jen, 35, said her daughter has eczema on her face and scalp that “crusts and comes off in yellow chunks”.
“Millie’s face hurts so much she can’t stop crying,” said Ms. Zweifel.
‘She scratches her face and scalp.’ Her pillow is sometimes full of blood.’
Four-month-old Millie Zweifel (above) had severe eczema on her face and scalp
Ms Zweifel has started using products from Australian natural skincare brand MooGoo, which offers products specifically for eczema and dermatitis.
“As soon as I put it on her face, it immediately soothes and the redness goes away.” “It’s amazing and really comforting,” she said.
“Because her hair is so thick, I massage it into her hair and scalp like a conditioner, let it sit for a couple of hours, and then comb it out. It comes out really easily, and then I wash her hair.”
Moogoo offers cleansers, creams, body washes and salves specifically for skin conditions like psoriasis, keratosis pilaris and rosacea.
CEO Melody Livingstone says Moogoo has been inundated with orders from people suffering from relapses due to the dry and cold winter air.
After long hot showers and spending hours under an electric blanket or in front of a heater, the skin on the face and body can become dry.
Ms Livingstone said Moogoo was selling an eczema cream every two minutes, with face cream and moisturizer sales skyrocketing by 80 to 90 per cent.
Ms Zweifel said that MooGoo’s scalp cream and an eczema and psoriasis cream “immediately calmed Millie’s rashes and the redness went away”.
Ms Livingstone said skincare company Moogoo is selling an eczema cream every two minutes, with sales of face creams and moisturizers soaring by 80 to 90 per cent
Australia has one of the highest incidences of eczema in the world and it’s getting worse – 50 years ago only one in ten Australian children had it,” says Ms Livingstone.
“Although eczema is becoming more common, there is still surprisingly little understanding of how to manage it.”
“With no proven cure for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, education and symptom control is critical.”
“The skin has a protective barrier. In the winter it can get very dry and when it’s broken it’s prone to infection.’ So it’s important to start using a quality moisturizer now to maintain the skin’s barrier function.’
Australia has one of the biggest eczema problems in the world, with around a third of the population being diagnosed with the debilitating skin condition. People with eczema often suffer from chronic itching, rashes, weeping sores and rough skin.
MOOGOO CEO MELODY LIVINGSTONE TIPS AGAINST Eczema
Keep your fingernails trimmed to prevent scratches from damaging your skin, and wear cotton mittens or gloves at night Wear 100% cotton or soft fabrics – avoid rough, itchy fibers and tight clothing Take lukewarm baths and showers Use hypoallergenic products and avoid perfumed products Pat gently, do not rub, dry skin with a soft towel Apply a moisturizer within three minutes after bathing to lock in moisture Avoid rapid temperature changes and sweaty activities Use washing powder and cleansers for sensitive skin Reduce daily stress
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