Dear Moira
My daughter is starting University after the summer and is moving into university accommodation. Is there any advice you would give on how to manage her eczema in this new environment?
For any young person leaving home for university often carries a quiet kind of fear that young people don’t always say out loud. There is excitement of course but for young people living with eczema the questions are not just about; Will I make friends? Will I belong? They also face questions that their peers may not.
How will I manage flare up alone?
At home, there’s often a routine and support system—reminders to moisturise, help recognising triggers, or comfort during bad flare-ups. Before a young person begins to pack for their new life ahead, take some time to sit down with them and go over their treatment plan if they have one. If you don’t this is a good time to get one from your healthcare provider, so the young person knows all about their treatments and how to use them. Answer any questions they have about their treatments and encourage them to ask their healthcare provider about anything they are unsure of before they move. Ensuring they have the numbers/contact details for their healthcare provider stored in their phones.
How do I access prescriptions and healthcare?
If your young person is still under the care of the GP for their eczema, then it would be good to chat to them before university starts to find out whether they should continue to be registered with them for their treatments or whether they should register with the GP service at the University ( if they have one). This may be required if they need to see a GP or access prescriptions on a regular basis for their condition. If your young person is accessing dermatology, then this may be able to be continued but may impact on travelling to and from appointment if they will be living further away.
Will the new environment trigger my eczema?
University accommodation can introduce unfamiliar irritants—different water hardness, carpets, dust levels, or even stress from a new lifestyle—all of which can aggravate eczema. Make sure your young person has a good supply of their treatments to take away with them for those first few weeks. Most Universities allow students to bring their own bedding, but if yours doesn’t then speak to the accommodation team to explain that your young person will need to bring their own from home. Mattress and pillow protectors can minimise allergies/triggers as well as dusting with a damp cloth on a regular basis.
How might my eczema impact me with student life?
It can be tricky for all new students to balance self-care with university life, but it is something that can help. Keeping up with a skincare routine is a good way of reducing the impact of their new life on their skin. We would also advise young people and their families to make the welfare team at the University aware of their eczema and how it can impact on them. This means they have adults there who they can turn to if they need support.
The biggest fear for young people can be that they are losing their safety net at home that has helped them manage their condition. However, just like the broader university transition, though, learning to manage eczema independently can also be a quiet source of resilience and self-confidence over time.
For any young person or parent/carer of one who would like further support around this issue please email info@eos.org.uk to arrange a call with one of our team.
