Katie Mackie, 27, from Teddington, wants to spread some love so that we all feel a little more comfortable in our own skin...
Scooping a large clump of Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse out of the pot, I set about applying my makeup.
Smearing a thick, orange layer over my cheeks, I tried to ignore the burning sensation that tingled under the foundation.
My skin was already inflamed, and I hadn’t even put my concealer on yet.
Just ignore it, I thought. You need it to hide your skin.
I had suffered with eczema my entire life, and as I went through puberty it seemed to be getting worse.
My hands would flare-up when I was stressed – and in the run-up to my GCSEs the pressure was on.
Typically, my eczema affected my body, and while I would have a little on my eyelids it was generally easy to hide my face.
Dream Matte Mousse had become my mask.
Slapping some of the creamy foundation on my legs before P.E. lessons, I thought I had found the perfect camouflage, along with a pair of over the knee socks.
But sweat was a trigger of mine, and no matter how much of a mask I put on, by the end of the lesson I would end up a shade of bright red.
‘Ew, you’re so unfit,’ the other kids would jeer.
And it made me feel really selfconscious of my body.
I desperately tried to cover myself up with long sleeves to prevent the mean comments – dreading the summer when we were forced to wear shorts on the sports field.
I was lucky to have a big group of amazing girlfriends who all stuck up for me.
They suffered from acne, so we made sure to always have each other's backs. Only they didn’t always get it. ‘You’re so lucky you don’t have acne,’ they would tell me.
I dreaded P.E. as sweat was a big trigger for me as a teen
‘At least you know what to do with your skin,’ I replied.
And I really had no clue! Ambushing Boots on a Saturday morning, I would grab any product that listed itself as a hydrating moisturiser.
I just didn’t know anything about fragrance free products or natural ingredients.
When my skin broke out, I didn’t know why.
It wasn’t until I went to university that I began to understand my skin.
And I had a period of clear skin for about a year or so.
But after a term of drinking and academic stress, I soon experienced regular flare-ups.
Confiding in my flatmate, I found out she suffered from eczema, too.
Sharing handy tips with each other, I found the confidence to talk about my condition.
‘There are so many groups online,’ she told me. ‘They offer lots of tips and advice and can be really helpful.’
I joined groups and followed eczema pages on Instagram.
Before long I was posting too, creating positive content.
