Riona Dighe

I have had eczema since the age of 2. At that young age, the eczema was severe, with doctors having me try the strongest and latest steroid ointments on the market. By the time I was 6 years old, the eczema still had not improved, giving me a traumatic experience growing up. There was always a constant need to scratch and relieve the wounds, but this was followed by throbbing pain.

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful team of doctors who were able to care for me and provide the treatments I needed. Fast forward 5 years, the eczema finally came under control and now only flares up when I’m in hot, humid environments. I spend a lot of time in Singapore, where the hot, humid climate sometimes causes my eczema to flare up. However, it is much better than in the past due to finding the right steroid creams that work for me.

Due to eczema, my skin has always been dry, so having a skincare routine of nourishing and hydrating products always helps me relieve that. For me, doing my skincare every morning and evening gives me a chance to connect with myself. I strongly believe that taking care of yourself and spending time with yourself is very important when dealing with eczema, as sometimes the redness can make you feel less confident. However, I have learned to embrace it as it is not something to be ashamed of, but something to be proud of.  It shows personal strength as well as the dedication the doctors have in making the eczema more manageable and improving my condition.