Beauty writer Anita Bhagwandas has described her lifelong battle with eczema, a condition she says imposes daily physical and psychological tests. She first developed the condition at the age of four, and by 15 was dealing with painful blisters on her hands that required wet wrap treatments. “How do you scratch an itch that’s underneath your skin? The truth is, you can’t,” she writes.
Over the years, she has experienced multiple forms of the condition, including atopic eczema, discoid eczema, contact dermatitis triggered by nickel, seborrhoeic eczema on her scalp and brows, and dyshidrotic eczema. She notes that there is no cure, only ways to control it, and recalls that her father, a dermatologist, once recommended homoeopathy, which helped until her teenage years.
According to consultant dermatologist Dr Derrick Phillips, eczema affects one in five children and one in ten adults in the UK due to a combination of “naive infant immune systems, sensitive skin barrier and exposure to potential environmental triggers.” Research cited in the article suggests women are more likely to be affected, as are those with a family history, hayfever or asthma. US studies indicate Native Americans, Pacific islanders and Asians are most affected, followed by white people, with black people least likely to have the condition.
Bhagwandas also highlights the link between stress and flare-ups, noting that her most recent major flare-up began in 2020 while she was writing her book proposal. She was appearing on television with weeping, flaking skin. A GP dismissed her condition, saying “It doesn’t look too bad, it’s not that red,” despite 70% of her body being affected. She felt this reflected a lack of consideration for people of colour.
After seeking specialist help, a dermatologist was shocked she had endured the condition for so long. Treatment with oral steroids, topical steroid creams and Milton bleach baths brought only temporary relief. Reflecting on her career in the beauty industry, she describes the experience as “a rollercoaster.”
