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From struggle to strength: S’pore influencer opens up on journey grappling with eczema & drug addiction
A story of self-love and grit.
At the age of 14 or 15, online content creator Luke Chan started his first taste of drugs.
It was also the period when he was diagnosed with eczema after an itchy spot on his ankle spread up his leg.
Besides suffering from discomfort in an air-conditioned room due to dryness, his eczema would flare up when he’s feeling stressed.
He cannot swim or be in the sun for too long – things that may seem small and be easily taken for granted for those who have normal skin conditions.
Having eczema also took a mental toll on Chan, adding to the insecurities that he felt as a teen. When the days got really tough, he shut himself in the house.
“I just don’t feel secure enough. Because if I go out, I know that my skin is just going to be itchy and it looks embarrassing too. People will give you ‘judgy eyes’.”
Photos provided by Chan
Photos provided by Chan
To cope with the insecurities and loneliness, as a single child from a single-parent family, Chan’s drug addiction escalated as he took hard drugs to make himself feel “good and confident” about himself.
From chasing the next high to the turning point in his life
In hindsight, Chan shared that his drug addiction actually worsened his eczema.
Despite seeing his eczema worsen, Chan did not really care at that point.
In fact, nothing mattered to the younger Chan as he was seeking ways to numb himself from the pain he carried inside.
Photo of Chan in the past, taken from @lukeyychan8/Instagram.
All he cared about was getting his next high.
“It was just a vicious cycle… Just keep smoking and smoking, and there’s no fun in it anymore.”
At his lowest point, he was crying while taking drugs, and he eventually served time for his drug abuse.
“I couldn’t feel happy,” he said in a 2023 interview where he opened up about his drug addiction.
Watching Chan giving up on himself broke his mother’s heart.
One day, Chan’s mother unlocked his bedroom door, looked at him and asked, “Luke ah, how long are you going to continue with this? Mummy’s already old, how long can I take care of you.”
Chan’s mother was at her wits’ end at that moment.
But for Chan, that moment was his turning point.
Chan looked at himself in the mirror and realised he had lost himself.
Disciplined
Determined to get clean, Chan deleted all his suppliers' numbers and contacted his friends he used to do drugs with to inform them not to call him anymore.
He also went cold turkey, cut off all drugs from his system and stayed in his room.
To distract himself from the desire to take drugs, he signed up for a gym membership.
“It was a very difficult process, but nothing that [you] can’t do, if you really put your mind into it.”
It wasn’t merely about quitting drugs, it’s a reset of his life.
Since the beginning of this new chapter in his life, Chan noticed his skin had improved significantly too.
He started to look for ways to cope with eczema and the right brand of products that he could use to manage his skin condition better.
Eczema has no cure but this didn’t stop Chan from finding a way to improve his quality of life.
Managing eczema
After years of trial and error, Luke finally found products that work hand-in-hand with his medication to keep his eczema under control – the QV Dermcare Eczema Daily range.
Photo via QV Dermcare & Hannah Martens/Mothership
QV Dermcare range is clinically tested to help relieve and manage eczema symptoms.
As many with eczema have reduced levels of ceramides, which weakens the skin barrier, QV Dermcare is scientifically formulated with ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids in the skin’s natural 3:1:1 ratio to help repair the skin barrier.
In addition, it also contains Niacinamide and L-Lactic Acid to help boost the skin’s natural ceramide production for longer-term support.
With ingredients that are specially formulated to manage eczema, it does not contain steroids.
For Chan, QV Dermcare products have become a must-have in his skincare routine.
The wash is gentle enough for everyday cleansing as it protects the skin barrier and does not strip away the skin’s natural sebum, while the cream provides lasting hydration without leaving a sticky or greasy layer – perfect for Singapore’s humid weather.
In a survey of 48 users with mild to moderate eczema, 40 experienced fewer flare-ups, less itching, and reduced irritation after using QV Dermcare.
QV is also the No.1 brand in Singapore hospitals, in terms of sales values.
The use of QV products gives Chan better sleep at night and greater comfort in the day.
Along with his career as a content creator, Luke has also ventured into the world of F&B with his eatery Pasta Papa
Final reflection and advice for others
Chan’s determination to take charge of his life brought him to where he is today – a successful online creator and an entrepreneur who continues to inspire others to overcome their darkest days.
The eczema scars on his skin serve as a reminder of how far he has come.
“It was a hole that I climbed out of… I will just look at [the scars] as ‘Hey, I got over this.’ It’s just a scar. I got over the drugs and I’m happy and grateful to be where I am.”
Photo of Chan with his strongest supporters, his mother and his girlfriend.
For those struggling with eczema, Chan advised them not to blame themselves for their condition.
“You cannot blame yourself or ever look at yourself as someone of lower value than other people. Don’t ever put yourself down.
Because each and every one of us has a struggle, so maybe you were born with this struggle, it’s okay.”
Chan hopes his story can change lives for the better.
“I took my past, I learnt from it, and I made it a story to let people know more, to potentially even change one person’s life, it is a blessing really.”
QV Dermcare Eczema Daily range is available at Shopee, Lazada, Guardian, Watsons and in selected retail outlets.
This branded article by QV Dermcare helps the writer gain a deeper understanding of the struggles associated with eczema and the strength required to manage it.
Top photo by Luke Chan & Tristan Koay/Mothership
