Mum hails Irish skincare brand after painful eczema left her looking ‘bruised everywhere’ – Belfast Live

A Co Down mum has hailed an Irish skincare brand as her saviour after helping clear painful eczema outbreaks.

Janielle Hunter started to suffer from dry skin on her face when she was a teenager and since then the problem has left her feeling self-conscious and afraid to go out without being 'plastered in make-up', for fear of being judged.

The 30-year-old told Belfast Live: "My problem with dry skin started at 13, around the time of puberty, when I began getting crusty skin around the eyes. It came and went, but my school friends teased me about it, which stressed me out and made it worse. When I started getting it around my face, the doctor prescribed a mild steroid cream which helped me keep it at bay.

"Last year, I started feeling a bit rundown and anxious and my eczema came out in full force around my face, shoulders, arms and lower back. It looked like I was bruised everywhere. The steroid cream provided temporary relief, but every time I stopped using it, the eczema returned with a vengeance."

Having "spent a fortune" on various creams and salves, some which she said she had 'poured acid on her skin', Janielle was desperate for a solution when she discovered Irish skincare brand Elave.

"I was stuck in a cycle where I had to keep using the cream, and I didnt like that because of the chemicals and I felt it was thinning my skin. I was desperate for a solution and I tried absolutely everything.

"I spent a fortune on creams and salves, but I found the more expensive and natural they were, the worse they were. I tried one very well-known organic brand, which cost me 40, and it felt like I had poured acid on my skin!

"It was really interfering with my life. I work in a customer-facing job and I was too self-conscious to go out the door without being plastered in make-up to hide my dry skin. I was itchy all the time and couldnt sleep."

It was at that point the Carryduff woman discovered Elave, an family-run Irish company from the Gardiner Family, who have been creating natural skincare products since 1934.

Janielle decided to keep a written diary as she started to use the products to chart how they reacted with her skin, and she was amazed by the results in just two weeks.

Here is her diary:

Week 1: I started using the Elave Body Wash, Intensive Cream and Shampoo and nothing else. I saw an improvement within a couple of days then my eczema returned with a vengeance. I thought, oh no, this isnt going to work either! But I persevered anyway.

Week 2: A major improvement! My partner noticed it first he told me my lower back had cleared up. I was very excited. The next thing, my chin, jawline and face started clearing up. My shoulders and arms came next. I wasnt even itching anymore and was able to get my first good nights sleep in months.

Week 3: I continued to use my steroid cream alongside the Elave for Weeks 1 and 2, but stopped using it in Week 3. I felt comfortable stopping using it and didnt see any adverse effects. I always felt that any time I stopped using the cream, then started again, that my eczema returned twice as bad, but obviously people should take the advice of their doctor. By this time, I see a vast improvement - the results are fantastic.

Since then the mum-of-two simply cannot be without her Elave skincare and has a spring in her step.

"I have continued with my regime since then. I forgot to pack my Elave when I went away on a weekend break and thought it wouldnt matter too much all things considered, but my eczema returned right away. When I got home and got the emollient back on again, it disappeared again very quickly.

"My skin continues to be very prone to dryness, so I need to work at it continuously. I keep a tube of cream beside my bed which my partner tries to steal for his feet. I am really delighted with the results, especially since when I go into work I only need to wear one mask, now, not two!"

Eczema usually starts in childhood, with sore, red, rough and weeping rashes. Heres some advice from Elave Skincare Adviser Karen Johnston on how to treat it.

What is Eczema?

Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a condition where patches of skin become inflamed, itchy, red, cracked and rough. Blisters may sometimes occur. It affects 1 in 5 babies born in Ireland and 1 in 10 adults.

What causes it?

Medical experts put the rise in eczema up from 3% to 25% inside two generations - down to environmental pollutants and harsh chemicals. It can also be triggered by certain foods, smoke and pollen.

What does it look like?

Rashes occur on the scalp, cheeks, neck, creases of elbows or knees, buttocks, legs and ankles. They can become bumpy, lighten or darken in colour, bubble up and leak fluid. They can also thicken and develop into knots which are permanently itchy.

Is there a cure?

While eczema can lessen as children get older, it is a lifelong condition. However, it can be managed very successfully by focusing on healing damaged skin and alleviating symptoms.

What should I do?

You can get more information from the National Eczema Society and the Irish Skin Foundation.

Original post:
Mum hails Irish skincare brand after painful eczema left her looking 'bruised everywhere' - Belfast Live