Failing fingerprint scans, flare-ups during stress: S'pore adults share realities of living with eczema

Do you know anyone who has persistent dry and itchy skin?

Well chances are you do, since atopic dermatitis — also known as eczema — is estimated to affect 11 percent of adults and 20 percent of children in Singapore.

Eczema sufferers typically get dry, itchy, and inflamed skin which in severe cases may crack, ooze fluid or bleed.

Eczema cannot be cured, but it can be managed

According to the Skin Research Institute of Singapore, treatments for eczema, including topical medications, immunosuppressant drugs, and steroids, are solely targeted at relieving symptoms, given that it cannot be cured.

More importantly, moisturising on a daily basis is key to helping one manage their eczema condition as it helps to protect the skin barrier, which in turn helps to keep allergens, bacteria and viruses from getting into the body.

In fact, that moisturiser you use for your daily facial routine? It’s actually doing more for you than you think in keeping your skin healthy, and it doesn’t necessarily need to be limited to your face either.

Mothership asked friends and colleagues who struggle with eczema about what it's like to live with the condition on a daily basis, the challenges they've faced, and the lengths they’ve had to go to manage their eczema.

(All names used are not the interviewees' real names to protect their identities.)

Kept failing fingerprint scans

John, 40, who has had eczema on his hands since childhood, now has a hard time getting past airport security in Singapore.

His hands might crack and bleed when it gets too dry, which damages his skin so much that his fingerprints can't be recognised clearly on the scanners at immigration.

Oh, and his right hand has no fingerprints to speak of.

John said he's failed to get through cleanly on numerous overseas trips, such as at airports in China, India, and Thailand previously.

He said he would usually end up retrying the scan for a good 10 minutes until airport security gives up and lets him through, as a long queue would have already formed behind him.

"I think I only passed once," John said.

All that being said however, John admitted that he also finds this quite funny.

Moisturiser-buying frenzy

Natasha, who is in her 30s, recalled her moisturiser-buying frenzy when she first started experiencing eczema six years ago, in 2019.

She had moved to a new office when the condition flared up, leading to itchy skin on her legs, torso and occasionally her face.

"I was desperate for a cure or some relief," she said, recalling that it was hard to control the urge to scratch in public as the itch was "so bad".

And when it affected her face, she would become more self-conscious about going out and meeting people.

In a span of a few months, she tried at least five different brands of moisturisers, and researched and added even more brands into her online shopping carts, until she found a suitable brand for her skin.

Now Natasha feels more equipped to handle her eczema as she recognises its triggers — hot, dry or dusty environments, and stress.

But it continues to be on her list of worries when travelling to new places or environments.

"I feel helpless sometimes as I never know when there may be a flare up," she said.

The last thing you want during wedding preparations

Mary, in her early 30s, was preparing for her wedding in October 2025, but the stress worsened her eczema and with it, her mood.

After developing dry patches of skin on her left ankle and right foot as an adult, she first thought it was a temporary condition or fungus growth but later realised it was probably eczema.

Though these areas were hidden by her wedding dresses, the itch could get "really annoying" whenever it flared up from dryness, such as in air-conditioned environments, she said.

She said she goes through an emotional rollercoaster whenever her eczema worsens after seeming to get better.

"When you're stressed, the last thing you need is another thing that ruins your mood further like eczema," she said.

Mary added that during such moments, she will either put moisturising cream or lotion on her skin, or use water if she does not have access to any cream, to make the condition of her skin less obvious.

New Vaseline cream for dry and sensitive skin

It’s hard to control external factors that may trigger eczema but what one can do is to moisturise daily – a good habit for all.

If you struggle with dry and sensitive skin, one option to consider for relief is the new Vaseline Pro Derma Ultra Moisturizing Body Cream.

Created with more than 300 skin care experts, the Vaseline Pro Derma Ultra Moisturizing Body Cream is clinically proven for dry and sensitive skin.

It offers 72 hours of deep moisturisation* for protection against dry or cracking skin and intensive skin barrier repair so you can carry on with your day.

The cream also melts at skin temperature and is absorbed quickly without leaving stickiness or residue behind.

It has also been tested in various environmental conditions, including environments that are either hot and humid or have a humidity level of 20 per cent humidity with a temperature of 10°C.

This makes it suitable for both the tropical climate of Singapore as well as your dry, air-conditioned office.

In a survey conducted by Vaseline among 86 users, 99 per cent praised the product for gently soothing their skin’s redness and irritation, while 97 per cent noticed an improvement in skin moisturisation and 93 per cent said it helps them control their skin’s future flare-ups.

The Vaseline Pro Derma Ultra Moisturizing Body Cream retails for S$22.55.

It is available at selected Watson's outlets, and at pharmacies across Malaysia and Singapore.

For those who haven’t found their perfect moisturiser, this could be the one.

For more details, you can check out this link.

*The data is derived from the efficacy test results conducted by a third-party testing institution commissioned by Unilever. The results are based on instrument tests performed 72 hours and two weeks after product use on 32 Chinese participants. Actual effects may vary from person to person.

This branded article is brought to you by Vaseline.

Top image from Canva