I heard someone say this last week and it really struck deep. It was a podcast conversation with a mother discussing her child’s ‘ugly eczema’ and it made me feel so judged, triggered and challenged. Now I don’t want to get into blaming this mother, I love her podcast and think she’s talented, funny and a very kind person. So I’m not even going to tell you who it was. But I wanted to challenge this knee jerk way we have as a nation of seeing things as ugly whey the don’t look so perfect and healthy. Because it made me realise I do think my eczema is ugly. It hurt so badly because deep down I a ..read more

Getting your hair cut when your skin is challenging, both on your face, neck and scalp is one of the hardest things to navigate. It can mean sometimes people go years without having a haircut. There are so many reasons why this is so hard. This blog looks at the reasons why and what you can do to stay safe and avoid a skin flare. 10 reasons I find getting my hair cut challenging Fragrance – Being allergic or sensitive to perfumes can make hair salons a triggering place and many people say they flare after just walking into one. Bear this in mind if you are planning a hair cut. Everything from ..read more

This is a very quick plea for a dermatologist to work with a the brilliant natural skin care brand Balmonds. This is a paid project, so please pass this on to any dermatologists you know who you think might be interested. Qualification criteria They are looking for a dermatologist with over five years experience in clinical practise with experience in the field of dermatology who would feel confident to read over the application for the medical device licence and sign if they’re happy with it! Check out the Clinical Evaluator Requirements below: Clinical-Evaluator-RequirementsDownload Get paid ..read more

Those of you who follow What Allergy regularly may have seen a previous blog about soft, comfy non-wired bras; I went down a rabbit hole of research and discovered loads of options. Check out “Wireless comfy soft bras for sensitive skin” for the full run down of kinder bras for those sensitive types out there. But first, a rant about boobs and bras! Your boobs are the least interesting thing about you Before we get to the great bras, let’s look at the thought processes that got me to the point of finally finding joyful comfortable bras. I realise this is a step away from my usual blog posts bu ..read more

If you have sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis or topical steroid withdrawal it’s likely you’ve tried a hundred different products with little success. Many skin care brands can cause irritation to allergy prone skin so you need to be careful, always check ingredients and ALWAYS patch test before using. What is skin care testing? Not to be confused with allergy patch testing, you can test any skincare products safely in your own home. It’s so easy to do, and is advisable when trying any new skincare product. Never slather anything on without testing. If you plan to have a tattoo or get your hai ..read more

In June this year I joined Lucy from Balmonds Skincare at ITN studies to take part in a video with the British Skin Foundation called Skin: Below the Surface, hosted by Louise Minchin. You can watch the Balmonds clip here: The short film explores the importance of having choice in your own skin care, agency to follow a natural healing path, representation of different skin types, colours and conditions and the mental health challenges. To watch the whole film visit The British Skin Foundation Website. Why choice and agency matters in eczema skin care 1. Choice matters: giving those living wit ..read more

Going through topical steroid withdrawal these past few years has taught me so much. It’s been very hard to go out into the world with a face that doesn’t look like anyone else. It’s shocking and dramatic and I don’t blame people for noticing but I do hate it when people feel they have a right to my story. If you’ve ever said something and wished you could retract it, hit the rewind button and take it all back, here’s some advice that could help. I’m talking to you and to anyone who has looked at a friend or a stranger and seen their pain and suffering and decided to share a suggestion or enq ..read more

This month Whatallergy.com was listed as one of the Top Ten Eczema Blogs by Feedspot. Another fantastic opportunity to celebrate excellent bloggig! If you have eczema there are some other great eczema blogs to follow; let’s share some eczema love. Blogging can be a thankless task, and it’s so hard to get comments on blogs these days. Feedback, reviews and comments on your blog are so precious. Tell a blogger they’re great today and thanks to everyone who has supported my blog over the years. Who are Feedspot? If you’ve never heard of Feedspot before, they hold a huge Blogger Database. Compan ..read more

When was the last time you saw someone on TV, in a film, a sitcom, in a magazine or an advert for skin care products who actually had even the tiniest blemish? Representation of ‘real skin’ in our media needs to be addressed as a priority. I’m not saying all products must show really serious skin conditions but we rarely see anyone like us represented anywhere. Here are the beautiful models on the day I joined the photoshoot. From left to right: Katie, Me, Jen and Bianca. The skincare and cosmetic industry is messed up I hate the skincare industry because most of it is unnecessary and expensiv ..read more

Well, it finally got me! After managing not to catch Covid-19 through the whole pandemic, my body finally succumbed. Many people have begun to forget about Covid now; it’s a bad dream, a distant memory, not a concern any more. Certainly since government advice is that we don’t even need to test or isolate any more, it seems like Covid might be on the way out. Worried about Covid and Asthma? Ever since I first heard about covid and got the call to be careful and shield at home, asthma as a complication of Covid has been a real worry for me. If you’ve ever felt the lack of oxygen getting to you ..read more