Woman whose eczema was so severe she needed sleeping pills because of the itching claims £8 cream helped soothe it
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A YOUNG woman has hailed an £8 cream after it helped sooth her severe eczema - which was so bad it caused daily panic attacks and ravaged her entire body.
Jennifer Austin, 26, has suffered with her painful skin condition for some time and says she was even signed off at work and prescribed sleeping pills due to her excessive itching.
That was until she discovered natural skincare brand MooGoo, and decided to try the £8 Skin Milk Udder Cream she'd seen on Instagram - which she claims has helped her skin.
Jennifer, from Norfolk, said: "I had tried dozens of over the counter treatments, prescription creams but my eczema was so severe that it covered her entire face and body.
“It was on the backs of my knees, my elbows, creases, face, hands and back which leaves my skin dry, flaky and with a red rash."
She said she's even had a couple of skin infections over the years, due to open wounds from the eczema "making me more susceptible".
"The worst infection was during my gap year travelling in Australia. At first we thought it was chickenpox!" she explained.
“I was treated by doctors and dermatologists in Australia, who couldn’t believe I didn’t have a dermatologist in England, but the doctors had never referred me.
“I finally got referred to an NHS dermatologist in 2019, which led to phototherapy at hospital three times a week from September to November.
“The treatment was successful, but unfortunately not long term. When I got referred to NHS dermatology again in 2020, they weren’t seeing anyone due to COVID-19 and told me the waiting list was about 22 months!”
The condition has had a devastating impact on Jennifer's life, including her mental health, fitness and ability to go to work.
She said: “I used to wake up in the morning and have a mini panic attack because I didn’t know what my skin would look like. It was horrible. I have been going to therapy for that now, to help with my feelings of anxiety.
“My itching has been so bad I have been prescribed sleeping pills to help as I really struggle at night otherwise. I literally cannot sleep because I am itching so much.
“I was signed off work for three weeks to catch up on sleep as the itching at night got so bad. It was hard to explain to my employers, but luckily they have been really understanding.
- Skin Milk Udder Cream, £8 from MooGoo - buy here
“I couldn’t face getting dressed and going to work as my self confidence and self image was at the worse it has ever been. My skin was red raw and flakes of my skin were literally falling off.”
Jennifer says she found the brand MooGoo online and hasn't looked back since, saying it "calms her skin right down".
She added: "I discovered MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream on Instagram one night and ordered online. It feels really nice when you put it on, it doesn’t feel greasy.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked.
Atopic eczema (the most common form of the condition) is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday.
However, it may also develop for the first time in adults.
It's usually a long-term condition, although it can improve significantly, or even clear completely, in some children as they get older.
The exact cause of eczema is not known.
Symptoms:
Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread red, inflamed skin all over the body.
It can affect any part of the body but it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.
There are many different treatments to help control eczema, including:
- self-care techniques, such as reducing scratching and avoiding triggers (babies and small children may need to wear mittens to avoid scratching)
- moisturising on a daily basis
- topical corticosteroids to reduce swelling, redness and itching during flare-ups
“I find with MooGoo it is long lasting, moisturising and calms my skin right down.
“I put it on twice, morning and night. I like using it as my night cream because it’s not greasy so won’t damage or stain the bedding like some creams can.”
MooGoo Skin Milk Udder Cream is an Australian brand which is available in the UK - and is a lightweight natural moisturiser that helps maintain skin health.
It contains natural moisturising oils combined with milk protein, which according to the brand, has been shown to increase skins elasticity by up to 20 per cent and costs just £8.
MooGoo CEO Melody Livingstone said: “Since March our online sales across the board in Australia and the UK, are also up more than 80 percent.
“We have had a lot of people come to us looking for relief for skin problems, mostly caused by continuous washing of hands or using harsh anti-bacterial hand sanitisers.
“There is also a lot of anxiety surrounding the pandemic, which seems to have increased eczema, psoriasis and other skin flare ups.”
What are the most common signs of eczema?
ECZEMA is a skin condition that causes dry and irritated skin.
One expert said the key to treating eczema is to moisturise.
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Jennifer Crawley, dermatologist and Childs Farm consultant highlighted the key signs to look out for.
- Itchy skin
- Dry, sensitive skin
- Inflamed, discolored skin
- Rough, thickened or scaly patches of skin
- Oozing or crusting
- Areas of swelling
She added: "To prevent flare ups moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Prevention is always the best method when it comes to skin sensitivity, so ensure you’re taking good care of yourself with a consistent and thorough skincare regimen.
“My top tip to combat dryness and areas of dry skin is to ensure you nourish and hydrate your skin with moisturiser. Pay special to the hands, but also the lips and feet.
"Also look out for products that have natural ingredients."
Geoff Graham, Co-Founder and Director of Grahams Natural Alternative added that during the colder months, skin can become more exposed to the elements.
He added that the increased use of hand sanitisers means people should make sure they are also moisturising their skin.
"Hand sanitisers, many of which are alcohol-based, can strip the skin of its natural oils, depleting the skins natural protective barrier, leaving hands feeling dry and sore.
"This can cause conditions such as eczema and dermatitis, and can cause already existing psoriasis to worsen."
He recommended oil-based products.
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