Stephen's Story

Stephen had infantile eczema up to the age of around 7. His parents told him they used to smother him in ointment and wrap him up in bandages. He grew out of eczema until the age of 40.

“It came back with a vengeance. I’m 48 now and I’ve been hospitalised with eczema flare-ups in the past. I also have asthma and hay fever and I am contending with alopecia and atopic dermatitis at the moment.

It can be very difficult, and I wish that more attention could be paid to the mental health side of things. Physical ailments which make you self-conscious and inhibit your ability to exercise cause stress and the lack of exercise causes more stress and so on.

When I was flaring badly on my neck, face; around my eyes and mouth it made me feel quite low about myself. At medical appointments I have often been handed a list with questions about how I am feeling – but I think that should be the start of a conversation, not just information which is filed away.

Losing your entire body hair within a matter of weeks, as I did, is very difficult to come to terms with, for example.

The more intimate relationships can be very difficult when you’ve got severe eczema. Even sharing a bed with your partner can be very difficult because it can be uncomfortable at night when you are wriggling and scratching in your sleep.

It’s widely known that keeping fit and healthy is beneficial for your mental health. But I’ve discovered that swimming in chlorinated water is very bad for me. Limited physical activity options has definitely impacted my mental health.

Looking back, I do wish that the severity of my eczema had been recognised more quickly. I do understand that medical professionals have to be cautious about treatments, but it was very obvious to me that the day to day creams wouldn’t work.

Could it be allergies? Other health conditions are triggered by an allergy

​Stephen’s journey, as shared on Allergy UK’s website, illustrates how allergic conditions can profoundly affect overall health.Initially experiencing eczema in childhood, he saw it return severely in his 40s, leading to hospitalizations.This resurgence was accompanied by other conditions such as asthma, hay fever, alopecia, and atopic dermatitis.Stephen’s experience underscores the interconnectedness of allergic diseases and their potential to exacerbate or contribute to additional health issues.

That’s why for Allergy Awareness Week 2025, we’re launching our new campaign – ‘I Wish I Knew’.

Our aim is to ensure anyone who may be affected by allergy one day can recognise symptoms early and seek support to control and manage their allergy. The right knowledge at the right time can change the course of an allergy journey.

Find our more about our campaign

Living with eczema, an Allergy UK podcast

For World Atopic Eczema Day, we recorded a podcast to raise awareness and understanding of what it is really like to live with this condition.

Holly Shaw, a Nurse Advisor at Allergy UK, discusses the challenges of life with eczema from a patient’s perspective with our Stephen who has lived with eczema for many years.

Stephen shares insights into how eczema has impacted his life psychologically, physically, and financially.

This podcast was made possible by Global Skin