An office worker from Devon has shared her painful experience of being bedridden with “excruciating” pain and chronic itching, while waiting up to 18 months for treatment through the NHS. She says the emotional toll of the condition has been even worse, making her feel “trapped, hopeless,” and afraid she may never be “free” from her skin disease.
Miss Jones, one of thousands of people across the UK waiting a year or more to see a dermatologist, is among those facing delays due to the increased demand for urgent skin cancer referrals and a shortage of specialist doctors.
“I’ve missed out on work, school, and college,” says Miss Jones, who adds that she has “spent a long time hating myself.” According to the National Eczema Society, one in ten people in the UK, including one in five children, suffer from eczema, a chronic condition that often lasts a lifetime and currently has no cure.
Miss Jones explains that her condition worsened in 2021 during a severe flare-up at college, describing the experience as a “never-ending tunnel” with “no light at the end.” She recalls, “You’re stuck in pain and agony… Your skin is always red… bleeding all the time… I couldn’t even recognize myself. It’s soul-destroying.”
Despite using steroid and moisturizer creams prescribed by her GP, Miss Jones says they “just made me burn and itch,” prompting a referral to a dermatologist. However, after waiting 12 months, she moved back home to Devon, where her wait continued.
Her wait for treatment stretched even further. Another 12 months passed before she received light therapy, and she had to wait 18 months for skin allergy patch testing, which is expected to take place in summer 2024. The results of her patch tests showed multiple skin reactions, leading her to cut out makeup, hair, and nail products, but nothing helped.
According to NHS data from January, the longest wait for dermatology treatment in her area of North Devon is currently two years. Overall, waiting times in the region are longer than the national average for England.
Now, Miss Jones is trying an immunosuppressant drug, which she says leaves her “sleeping all weekend.” But her search for effective treatment continues.
“I’ve learned to accept my condition, stay positive, and just keep fighting,” she says. However, the long waits for treatment are a common challenge for many patients with inflammatory skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, and acne, which can cause permanent scarring.
Departments across the NHS are under significant pressure, with increasing numbers of skin cancer referrals—now the highest of any NHS urgent cancer referrals. These cases are prioritized with government-set waiting time targets, but the shortage of dermatologists continues to add pressure.
Dr. Toby Nelson, a consultant dermatologist practicing in Cornwall and Devon, calls patients with inflammatory skin diseases the “forgotten many.” He explains, “You can’t say that skin cancer shouldn’t take priority, but at the moment there does seem to be a significant imbalance. Some of these patients are living in hell.”
While some patients are turning to private healthcare for faster treatment, Dr. Nelson notes that many of the newer, “transformative medicines” are only available through the NHS, leaving some patients with no choice but to wait.
The mental health impact of skin conditions is significant, and patients often find themselves isolated and struggling. Some patients, like Katie Mackie, 28, and Maia Gray, 30—both skin positivity influencers from London—are using social media to help others cope.
Miss Mackie, who has been campaigning for the charity Changing Faces after a challenging journey with eczema, encourages people to reach out for support. “Tell people what you’re going through, don’t isolate yourself,” she advises. “There are also free therapy options and charities that can offer support.”
Ms. Gray, who has battled acne for 17 years, adds, “A lot of people are struggling mentally with their skin conditions. My message is to continue living life, no matter what your skin looks like.”
Waiting times for dermatology treatments across NHS departments in England are longer than they were before the Covid-19 pandemic. Data from the beginning of 2025 shows that 43% of patients had waited longer than the NHS’s target of 18 weeks. Nearly 9,000 people had been waiting for more than a year at the time.
As the demand for skin cancer treatments continues to rise, patients with inflammatory skin diseases like eczema are facing even longer waits for care. With the NHS struggling to meet the demand, patients like Miss Jones are left to endure both physical pain and emotional distress as they wait for much-needed treatment.
Related topics
