advice

Your GP

Ask your GP to refer you to an app called My Skin Doctor. My Skin Doctor can be used as a private patient, or your GP can refer you under the NHS. This can speed things up if you need to try alternatives to topical steroids. You can upload photos and symptoms and they can make recommendations for medications and further referrals.

Also ask to be referred for Skin Patch Testing. This will determine what you are sensitive to. Fragrance Mix II tends to be tested as standard. Ask for Fragrance Mix I testing as well.

You an also request to be referred to the Clinical Allergy and Immunology department to establish whether you have systemic immune responses to various ingredients. 

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SkinSAFE App

Your Dermatologist will inform you as to what ingredients irritate your skin. The US-based Mayo Clinic has worked with SkinSAFE on an app which contains the ingredients of thousands and thousands of products from Household to Skincare to Baby Products. Set up a free account and submit the ingredients you are irritated by. SkinSAFE will attach a Safe For Me Code (SFM) to your account. You can then browse or search specific products to see if they are suitable for you. This app is invaluable not just for finding products, but for understanding more about common ingredients and ingredients that may be related to those that you are sensitive to.

The free account will say yay or nay to products. The paid subscription will give you more in-depth information as to why certain products may not be right for you (currently $47.99 per annum - as at June 2025).

Just be aware, this is a US-based site and some equivalent brands and products in the UK may contain different ingredients as we have different regulations and manufacturing methods.

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Supplements

Our skin is our largest organ and therefore we obviously need to maintain a healthy body and keep our inflammation levels under control. Supplements which I believe have helped are:

Stinging Nettle

Quercetin

Vitamin C, D, B12 (you may wish to avoid B12 supplements if you have a cobalt allergy)

Magnesium

Zinc

Ancient & Brave Bovine Collagen (Marine and Plant-based also available)

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