Patient profile

Delphi Anderson
36 year old eczema sufferer who has two children with eczema,
living in Werribee, VIC

Q1. When and how did you discover that you had eczema?
I was 23 years old and living in a house with a lot of dust when all of sudden my legs broke out in spots. I couldn’t help but scratch them and ended up having to visit a skin specialist in hospital as a result. I was prescribed a steroid cream and advised to wrap my legs in glad wrap and to sleep like that. I only lasted about half an hour with my legs wrapped in glad wrap. It was a pretty awful experience.

Q2. How does eczema affect your quality of life?
My eczema affects my health and I’m overweight. I’m not keen to go swimming as I associate the idea of getting into bathers as particularly embarrassing. It’s mainly the social and physical appearance issues that are a problem for me.

I don’t talk to anybody about my eczema. I hide it with clothing, although in summer it can get pretty hot wearing jeans and polo shirts. I don’t wear dresses, skirts or shorts because my legs look so bad from all of the scars. I just live with it, and would rather be hot than have people stare at me.

It also gets embarrassing when I’m constantly trying to stop my daughter from scratching her eczema too, as she turns around and tells me not to scratch as well!

Q3. Where is your eczema predominantly?
My eczema is mainly on my limbs. But I also get it on my elbows quite badly.

Q4. Do you have a family history of eczema, hay fever or asthma?
Both my husband and I have a family history of asthma.

Q5. How have you been trying to manage or control your eczema symptoms to date?
I don’t treat my eczema at all. The creams and ointments haven’t done much for me, so I basically try to live with it.

The only thing that works for the kids is a particular ointment, although I do prefer creams. I’ve tried many different alternatives and this is the only thing that seems to work for them.

Q6. Would you consider using the Eczema Control Plan?
Yes, I ‘d like to give it a go.

Q7. What is your advice to people who have eczema?
Don’t ignore your eczema. Learn from my mistakes. It’s easy to say, but do what you can when you’re young. I’ve had eczema now for more than 10 years and there wasn’t a lot of education back then.

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To organise an interview with Delphi Anderson, please contact Kirsten Bruce from
viva! communications on 02 9884 9011 or 0401 717 566.