My Skin Story: Living with Eczema & Learning to Love My Skin

If you had told me years ago that I’d be sharing my eczema journey with the world, I would have laughed (or maybe cried, depending on the day). For most of my life, my skin was something I wanted to fix, hide, or just not think about. But as I’ve grown, I’ve realised that eczema isn’t something to erase—it’s part of me. And instead of fighting against my skin, I’ve learned to listen to it, support it, and most importantly, live my life beyond it.

I don’t really remember a time without eczema. As a child, I was constantly itchy, constantly uncomfortable, and constantly trying to explain to other kids why my skin looked “different.” The stares, the questions, the unsolicited advice—it all made me feel like my skin was a problem that needed solving.

I was super lucky growing up because my mum was really careful about what medication she put me on. Before resorting to steroids, she explored every alternative—eliminating foods, allergy testing, herbalists, natural remedies—you name it, we tried it. I even spent weeks in a rehab clinic in the Alps, where the clean air was meant to give my skin a “break.” Through it all, I learned that eczema wasn’t just about creams and prescriptions—it was about everything, from my environment to my stress levels.

Despite all these efforts, my skin still flared up. As I got older, the emotional side of eczema hit harder. Feeling self-conscious as a teenager made managing my skin even tougher. When I turned 14, I started using steroid creams—at the time, it felt like the only way to gain some control over my skin and, honestly, to just feel normal. 

At the time, I was still living in Germany, and I have to say, the approach to prescribing steroids was very cautious and controlled. I was never on them for more than two weeks at a time, and if there was any concern about bacteria, fungal infections, or other underlying issues, doctors would always run tests to ensure I was given the right treatment. This was a really successful treatment for me and I actually ended up being pretty much flare free for several years when I went to university using steroids on the odd occasion, maybe once or twice a year but with literally no dependancy whatsoever. 

Just before the first lockdown in 2020, my eczema spiralled out of control. My skin became raw, inflamed, and so painful that even the smallest movements felt uncomfortable. The emotional toll was just as heavy as the physical one—I felt exhausted, frustrated, and completely hopeless (being in national lockdown, in a new city where I had no friends didn’t help that). By then, I was under the care of the NHS, but with lockdown restrictions, it was impossible to see a doctor in person. Instead, I was prescribed strong steroid creams. Having had a relatively positive experience with steroids in the past, I trusted them and used them as directed. 

For the next three years, I relied on steroids to manage my eczema. At first, it seemed to work, but never quite like it used to. My skin would improve for a while, but flares always came back, and every time I tried to stop using them, my skin would spiral again. I felt stuck in a cycle I could not break—dependent on a treatment that no longer seemed to be helping.

After years of this, I realised I was not seeing any real improvement. My skin was not healing; it was just being temporarily suppressed. So, I made the decision to stop using steroids altogether. What followed was, without a doubt, the hardest period of my life. My eczema became worse than it had ever been, but this time, it was not just my skin. I could not sleep, I became highly sensitive to irritants in the air, I could not regulate my body temperature, and I lost so much hair. It was as if my entire body was in shock. The withdrawal symptoms were relentless, and there were days I genuinely wondered if I would ever feel normal again.

I started questioning everything I had been told about my skin. Instead of just treating eczema, I focused on truly understanding it. I had always been interested in learning about my body and personal development, but now, with such a huge pain point in my life, I took it to the next level. I immersed myself in learning about the skin barrier, triggers, and how stress, diet, and lifestyle played just as big a role as products.

More than anything, I stopped seeing eczema as the enemy. Instead of chasing an impossible “cure,” I shifted my focus to what my skin actually needed—strength, nourishment, and patience. I stopped waiting for my skin to be “good enough” before I allowed myself to enjoy life. I wore the clothes I wanted, swam in the sea without fear, and no longer hid away during flare-ups.