An Isle of Wight teenager who was bedbound from her skin condition - says she doesn't want others to "suffer in silence."
Keira Downer, who has severe atopic eczema is starting a campaign to raise awareness for eczema, immune and autoimmune diseases because of her own personal experience.
“I’ve had a tough past two years”
Keira, who lives in Rookley has always had eczema but says the last two years have been especially “tough” trying a variety of intense skin treatments - to control her eczema.
With Keira’s condition - her immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues - leaving her with painful, inflamed and itchy skin.
When her immunotherapy started in March 2020 and ended in Janurary the following year, Keira became bedbound for around two to three weeks due to what she describes as 'open sores oozing fluid' from the back of her legs.
Now, there is hope for her - as she has been accepted onto a new rare treatment program with an antibody treatment called dupixent (dupilumab).
She is just one of four people in the south of England (under 18) who is on the program.
Keira told Isle of Wight Radio:
“The reason why I am raising awareness is because so many people suffer in silence from so many other conditions like Lupus, arthritis and I want to show people it’s OK and they should not feel ashamed of what they suffer from whatsoever and I don’t want them to feel alone whatsoever."
Keira Downer (pictured above)
What has COVID been like for Keira?
Even before schools shut during the first wave of coronavirus, Keira was forced into isolation which she said was “really tough”.
In the summer she wasn’t allowed outside, which she says was one of the most challenging times of her illness to date.
The Island VI Form student has instead spent time connecting with others around the world with similar skin conditions.
Keira told Isle of Wight Radio:
“I’ve reached out to a few people even as far as Spain - to people who are suffering from severe atopic eczema - and they come to me for advice. So I have started helping people all around the world.”
Ice packs to reduce inflammation, listening to music and reaching out to your family are among her tips for coping with an eczema flare-up, which she says "can take over your whole day".
Keira Downer (pictured above)
Now, Keira is returning to study three subjects at the Island V1 Form - where she says they have made a room available to her so she can relax and apply her creams.
Keira told Isle of Wight Radio she has hopes to one day educate others about her condition in schools and continue to raise awareness.
She concluded:
“Not just me, but other people always have to live in uncertainty, we don’t know if we are going to have a good day or a bad day and that’s quite difficult to live with...I want those who suffer in silence to express how they feel and come out of their shell.”
"I’m now struggling with more frequent and severe flares, especially in my arms, shoulders, inner thighs and neck, so hopefully these flares can be controlled soon! I also suffer from swollen lymph nodes as well."
Follow Keira's story on Facebook here
Or via Instagram at myautoimmune_blog
Scroll through pictures of Keira below.
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