When Paige Mills’ eczema became impossible to control, she faced the painful decision to give up her beloved dog, Rex, after fearing he was worsening her skin condition.
The Sydney university student had experienced eczema since infancy, but at 19 her symptoms intensified dramatically. She scratched so severely that her skin regularly bled.
“The itching was almost impossible to tolerate. It kept me awake and caused constant burning, stinging and tickling sensations, as though insects were crawling over my skin and biting me,” Paige, now 21, told the Daily Mail.
“It never let up. I found it especially difficult to cope at night or in hot weather, when I was desperate to relax and sleep. The discomfort and pain felt like a 10 out of 10 — sometimes even 12 out of 10.”
Instead of enjoying the final years of her teens, Paige was privately battling the physical and emotional consequences of severe eczema.
“My quality of life was incredibly poor,” she said.
In March 2025, she adopted Rex, a six-month-old American Staffordshire Terrier and Boxer cross, from the RSPCA. The lively puppy quickly became an important source of comfort.
“He was affectionate, well-behaved, energetic and full of personality. He was also cuddly and a wonderful companion,” Paige said.
When Paige Mills’ eczema became unbearable, she made the heartbreaking decision to give up her beloved dog Rex after fearing he was aggravating her skin condition
Rather than enjoying her final year as a teenager, Paige was struggling in private as severe eczema affected her physical and mental health
Six months after bringing Rex home, however, Paige’s eczema became worse. A blood test later confirmed she was allergic to dogs, leaving her feeling she had little choice but to find him another home.
“We suspected Rex could be contributing to my eczema, and I was heartbroken,” she said.
“Giving him up was devastating. I felt intense grief and guilt because I truly wanted to give him the best possible life.
“At the same time, I knew I had to make a decision that protected my health and wellbeing. It was incredibly difficult, and I still feel upset when I think about it.”
Paige, who is studying sports and nutrition science, said Rex was adopted by a “lovely lady” within two weeks of being listed for rehoming.
Her eczema showed some improvement after Rex left, but the painful flare-ups did not disappear entirely.
“I also believe the stress and grief of losing Rex may have played a part in my eczema getting worse,” she said.
Eczema had been part of Paige’s life for as long as she could remember.
“I had eczema as a baby, but it was generally limited to dry skin or occasional heat rashes in the creases of my arms and legs. It was manageable,” she explained.
“When I turned 19, I began developing severe rashes across my face along with extremely dry skin. I was constantly itching, unable to sleep and breaking out in hives across my body.
“My skin was covered in red scratch marks, while my face became cracked, flaky, dry and intensely itchy. I eventually had to keep my nails short to stop myself from causing even more damage.”
Paige found an emotional support companion in Rex, a six-month-old American Staffordshire Terrier and Boxer cross adopted from the RSPCA in March 2025
Six months later, Paige’s eczema worsened and she rehomed Rex after testing showed she was allergic to dogs
As she grew older, the skin on her face, arms and legs became increasingly dry.
“Keeping my skin moisturised and maintaining its protective barrier was extremely challenging. Sometimes even applying moisturiser made the itching and discomfort worse,” she said.
“Constant scratching broke the skin and led to infections that needed steroids and antibiotics. While those treatments cleared the infections, they also aggravated my gut symptoms.”
Paige tried a wide range of remedies in an effort to control her severe eczema.
“I’ve tried everything from nappy rash cream and steroids to bleach baths. I also bought dust-mite protective covers for my bedding. They helped temporarily, but I felt as though my body eventually adapted to them,” she said.
Moisturising her face and body has become a major part of Paige’s daily routine.
“It’s frustrating having to moisturise so frequently,” she said.
Paige now works with a therapist after the impact of her condition contributed to depression.
“My quality of life had deteriorated so much that I became depressed. The hardest moment was having to give up my dog,” she said.
“Eczema has affected me during a stage of life when I had just finished school and was meant to be enjoying myself. It has been incredibly tough. At its worst, I missed an entire semester of university.”
“The itching was almost impossible to tolerate,” Paige said, describing sleepless nights filled with burning, stinging and crawling sensations
Paige’s eczema is now “pretty much managed”, although she still experiences some dryness around her face
Paige says her eczema is now “pretty much managed”, although she continues to experience dryness around her face.
She receives Dupixent, a prescription treatment for moderate-to-severe eczema, by injection every two weeks.
“Dupixent has made a significant difference to my condition,” she said.
“I don’t want to rely on Dupixent for the rest of my life, and I worry about what could happen if I stop taking it.
“For now, I’m concentrating on keeping my skin stable and working with my medical team. I need to be well enough to attend university and work.
“I want to have a good quality of life in my 20s, because this is such an important stage of my life.”
Alongside her medical treatment, Paige has found some additional relief using natural eczema and psoriasis creams from MooGoo.
“I’m using the Pink Eczema and Psoriasis cream and applying it generously,” she said.
“I’ve tried countless products and spent a great deal of money over the years, but this has been a game-changer during flare-ups, so I’m continuing to use it.”
Paige’s advice to people living with eczema: “Everyone’s skin is different, and finding the right combination of treatments, products and lifestyle changes takes time”
Paige encouraged other people living with eczema to remain patient while finding an effective treatment plan.
“Everyone’s skin is different, and discovering the right combination of treatments, products and lifestyle changes can take time.
“Genetics can make someone more likely to develop eczema, but emotional stress, trauma, grief, anxiety and major life events can also trigger symptoms or make flare-ups worse.
“Eczema is far more than a skin condition. It can affect mental health, relationships, sleep, confidence and your overall quality of life. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to face it alone.
“Be kind to yourself, speak up about your health and keep looking for the right support, medical team and treatment. Look after yourself. You only have one body to live in, and you deserve to feel comfortable in your own skin.”
UNSW conjoint associate professor and dermatologist Dr Deshan Sebaratnam said moisturising regularly remained a key part of eczema management, alongside suitable medical care.
He urged Australians to consult a doctor if their skin symptoms were persistent, severe, painful, weeping or showing signs of infection.
MooGoo CEO Melody Livingstone said the seriousness of eczema was often underestimated, despite severe itching having the potential to disrupt sleep, education, work and family life.
“Eczema isn’t simply itchy skin. For some families, it means children scratching until they bleed, parents staying awake for much of the night and painful flare-ups that can take the enjoyment out of summer,” Melody said.
“Summer should be about days at the beach, backyard cricket and family holidays — not spending the night trying to stop a child from scratching.”
“Heat, sweat and dry air are well-known triggers, and once the itch-scratch cycle begins, breaking it can be extremely difficult.”