It all started 50 years ago!
On 7th May 1975, 50 years ago today, the Society’s founder Christine Orton wrote a letter to The Guardian newspaper calling for change. Christine highlighted the lack of support and information available to help her manage her son’s eczema. The response from others affected by eczema was overwhelming. Christine went on to organise a public meeting and, soon after, the National Eczema Society (now Eczema UK) charity was formed.
Our charity has achieved so much over the past five decades, thanks to our wonderful members, volunteers, donors, campaigners and the many healthcare professionals who support our work. We still have much more to accomplish though to make life better for people with eczema and their families. There is still no cure for eczema – and until there is, we will work tirelessly to support our eczema community, campaign for better care, and progress research to find the answers we desperately need.
Eczema UK wrote another letter to The Guardian today, which we’ve reproduced here, highlighting our renewed commitment to bring about positive change for our eczema community.
7 May 2025
Fiftieth Anniversary of Eczema UK
A Guardian letter published exactly 50 years ago proved transformative. Journalist Christine Orton, writing about her child’s severe eczema, prompted a massive response from other affected families leading to the founding of the National Eczema Society (Eczema UK) charity. Today, while we recognise significant advances in eczema care, many challenges remain, not least public attitudes and misunderstanding of eczema. In a world where perfect skin is expected, eczema is at best an embarrassment and at worst a source of disgust, compounding the misery and discomfort felt by many sufferers. Eczema, affecting 8 million children and adults in the UK, is sidelined by educators, regulators and funding bodies alike. A much-needed eczema management guideline was shelved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) leaving sufferers unable to access newer treatments. Research is dominated by financial interests. In response, NES has shifted its focus to become a powerful advocacy body for the eczema community. We celebrate our 50th anniversary with the success of the charity’s campaign for strength labelling of topical corticosteroids and the launch of our own research awards, one of which will be named after Christine Orton.
The Guardian helped galvanise eczema sufferers 50 years ago and we will continue to champion the eczema community with a louder voice over the next half century.
Professor Celia Moss OBE, Stephen Pugh and Andrew Proctor
Eczema UK
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