ECZEMA KILLS MY DATING HOPES

Dear Coleen

I’ve suffered with eczema on my face for as long as I can remember. Sometimes it’s OK, but other times it flares up and looks really awful, to the point where I don’t want to leave home.

I’m 27 and it’s really affecting my social life. I’d love to date guys and meet someone special, but I just have no confidence.

My friends tell me I’m worrying far too much and that it doesn’t look as bad as I think it does, but in my mind it is awful and I often bail on plans to go out at the last minute. Or, when I do go out, I manoeuvre myself into the darkest corner. How can I overcome feeling like this?

Coleen says

I can relate to how you feel. I get contact dermatitis on my face and when I’m exposed to an allergen, my entire face swells up. As well as looking dreadful, it’s painful and irritating.

I’ve had to cancel TV appearances and hidden myself away, too. When I first started getting it, I wouldn’t even leave the house to buy a pint of milk.

Now I’ve decided to accept it’s a part of me. It’s not possible to go on telly if I have a bad flareup, but I will go out and I’ve found that people are actually really nice about it and will just say something like, “Oh, that looks painful”.

Also, check with your dermatologist that the treatment you’re on is still OK or whether there’s something else that might be more effective.

Could changing your diet help? Are there any more tests they can run? And try to keep your stress levels low. There are lots of things you can do yourself to de-stress and feel calm and positive, from mediation to yoga.

And, when it comes to dating, I promise the right person will always see past your eczema, so come out of the corner.

There’s a lot more to you than this skin condition and you need to learn to see and celebrate all the things that make you a great person.