‘Shed like a snake’: Girl allergic to own tears

Summah Williams was hospitalised on the finish of 2022 after her pores and skin dried out into cracks and have become purple and infected beneath a layer of shedding pores and skin.

At first, her mom Karyn Zimny, 47, thought she had a foul sunburn however grew more and more involved when she seen her usually wholesome daughter shivering within the warmth and itching at her pores and skin by means of the evening.

“When we went to hospital, she had a staph infection and when she was on antibiotics, her whole face and body shed like a snake from head to toe, the bath would be full of skin,” she mentioned.

She was identified with eczema and has developed an allergy of kinds to her personal tears and sweat.

“[It’s] heartbreaking as she loves dancing,” Ms Zimny mentioned.

“When she looks at all her other dance friends, she gets upset and asks, ‘Why can’t I have skin like them?’ It’s heartbreaking.”

Summah is presently trialling a brand new injection remedy referred to as Dupixent, however continues to be getting terribly painful facial flares.

Australian kids have one of many highest incidences of eczema on the earth and the intense warmth of this summer time is placing extra kids in danger.

Australian-made skincare model MooGoo’s chief government Melody Livingstone says their model has been inundated with apprehensive mother and father asking what they will do to ease their kids’s pores and skin.

“We can hardly keep up with demand,” she mentioned.

“Our Irritable Skin Balm eczema cream has seen over 70 per cent sales growth since last year, and orders are double what they were this time last year.”

The Eczema Association of Australia says eczema is impacting as much as 30 per cent of youngsters and 10 per cent of adults to various levels, with many attributing climate as a fundamental trigger for flare-ups.

There is presently no remedy for eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, so preserving the signs underneath management is crucial for these dwelling with the illness.

How to assist handle eczema and pores and skin irritation

• Avoid harsh soaps, foaming brokers, fragrances and preservatives in skincare
• Keep pores and skin moist and apply fragrance-free merchandise straight after bathing
• Check washing detergent for sulphates and different pores and skin irritants
• Reduce the warmth of showers and baths, as it may well strip pure oils from pores and skin and additional irritate it
• Reduce or keep away from sugar and yeast and eat oily fish, vitamin A and E wealthy meals and omega-3 wealthy meals like flaxseeds and walnuts
• Use a probiotic that accommodates the lactobacillus rhamnosus pressure
• Keep a meals diary and observe when flare-ups happen
• Consult with a healthcare skilled to determine any environmental, dietary or different allergens which may be contributing to your pores and skin downside