Oscar's story
Oscar has lived with eczema for most of his life. Much like others with eczema, it’s something that quietly shapes each day - from the moment he wakes up to the moment he tries to sleep.
Read his story to learn how he was able to understand his eczema, and take back its control over his life.
Living with eczema
I first experienced eczema as a child, and like many people, it came and went over the years.
However, in my late-twenties, during a particularly stressful period at work, it flared significantly. I was determined not to let it “hold me back”, so I kept pushing through.
As things worsened, my treatment escalated. I went through potent topical steroids, immunosuppressants, oral steroids, antibiotics, and eventually biologics. While these treatments often helped in some ways, they came with their own challenges. At times, the side effects and complications felt worse than the condition itself.
At my worst, I lost my job as a result of how severe my condition had become. Now, in my early-thirties, my eczema is much more manageable but getting here has taken years of trial, error, and persistence.
There are parts of living with eczema that only those who experience it truly understand. The relentless itch that never quite goes away. The instinct to scratch without even realising. The calculations behind everyday life that make ordinary decisions fatiguing, what to wear, where to go, how long something might last before discomfort sets in.
My sleep suffered immeasurably; there were nights where I would scratch so much that my fingers ached by morning, as if they had done the work of a full day before I even gotten out of bed.
The challenges of managing eczema
Managing eczema is rarely straightforward. As I found out in my research, there are so many factors that can play a role, including:
Environmental triggers such as weather and allergens
Individual sensitivities
All of these can interact in different ways, making eczema highly personal.
At the same time, there is an overwhelming amount of advice, often conflicting, about what might help. Social media is full of advice about diet changes, skincare routines and lifestyle adjustments. It can be incredibly difficult to know what is actually relevant to you, and where to even begin!
Understanding his skin
Over time, I began to take a more active role in understanding my condition.
It started as experimenting with lifestyle changes and tracking different factors, trying to identify patterns and triggers. Through that process, I developed a much deeper understanding of what affects my skin and how to manage it.
My current approach combines medical treatment, using Dupixent [Dupilumab] and Protopic, with careful management of the lifestyle factors I knows I am sensitive to. For example, when I go away from home, I bring my own bedding so I know I won’t be exposed to bio laundry detergents and fragrances that I am sensitive to. During the grass pollen season, I need to be aware of the pollen count so I can moderate my time in high and very high counts. I actively eat more anti-inflammatory foods and try to limit exposure to my food sensitivities. Stress is a big factor in my eczema severity so I’ll proactively increase my protopic use and dietary modifications ahead of and during periods of stress.
This has allowed me to be more proactive in managing my eczema. Rather than reacting to flare-ups, I can control the conditions that reduce them from occurring in the first place.
Eczema is still part of my life, but it no longer feels like it controls me. Getting a better understanding of my eczema and my body, from triggers, patterns and limits, has made all the difference for me.
Giving Back
Going through this journey made me realise how difficult and confusing eczema can be, and how little clear, practical guidance there often is.
In 2020, I created a website - The Itchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy because I struggled to understand what I could actually do myself. how to do it, and what was genuinely evidenced to help. I wanted to bring that clarity together in one place for other people. Last year, I launched an instagram page to reach more people: @itchhikers_guide
I also started MushMunity, a natural food supplement, after noticing that much of the conversation around diet and eczema tends to focus on restriction and exclusion. In my experience, there are ingredients that can be introduced into the diet to actively support eczema symptoms.
My work with the Eczema UK EXEC group
I got in touch with Eczema UK, (formerly the National Eczema Society), wanting to support the eczema community in a more hands-on way and that connection grew into something bigger. I'm now a member of their Expert by Experience Group (EXEC), where I've already been putting my lived experience to work reviewing research grant applications for the next round of eczema research funding.
Unfortunately the group is not taking new members at the moment, but keep an eye out as opportunities to get involved may open up in future.
Oscar's message
Eczema is deeply personal, and it is important to note that no two journeys are the same. But with the right support, knowledge, and persistence, it’s possible to move from feeling controlled by your skin to understanding it and taking back a sense of control.
If you're currently on an eczema treatment plan, please speak to your GP or healthcare professional before making any changes to your medication or management routine. If you are looking for information on the topics Oscar has discussed such as lifestyle factors and diet, we have a range of resources on our website.