A mother has shared the painful reality of her young son’s extreme eczema, which causes him constant suffering and isolation from other children.
Heart-wrenching footage shows little Koen O’Shaughnessy, aged one, writhing on the floor in an attempt to soothe the unbearable itchiness caused by his severe eczema. His mother, Alana Spurgeon, says her son’s skin is so inflamed it resembles chemical burns, attracting judgmental stares and excluding him from social interactions.
Koen’s eczema, which he has suffered from since birth, took a dramatic turn in January 2025, spreading across nearly his entire body except for his hands. Alana, 32, says he constantly scratches himself on carpets, toys, and furniture until he bleeds in a desperate attempt to ease the relentless irritation.
“I feel like I avoid taking him places because of the comments and the stares,” said Alana, from Southend-on-Sea. “It’s heartbreaking and I cannot tell you how many times I’ve cried over it. People look at me like I’ve done something to him.”
Koen’s worsening condition led Alana to take him to their GP weekly for two months. Eventually, his symptoms escalated to the point where he was admitted to the hospital for a week in February. His face and eyes became extremely swollen, prompting doctors to administer IV antibiotics.
Despite medical efforts, doctors remain uncertain about what exactly is causing the severe flare-ups. Blood tests didn’t identify any specific allergies, further adding to the family’s frustration.
“His whole body is completely covered,” Alana explained. “It’s very red and angry-looking—like it’s constantly inflamed. A lot of people have said it looks like chemical burns.”
She has since shared her son’s story on TikTok in a video captioned “please be kind,” which has garnered over 1.7 million views. The clip shows Koen desperately rubbing his body against the floor to relieve the itching. The response has inspired her to raise awareness and seek help through a GoFundMe campaign to afford private medical care.
“There’s not enough awareness about how bad eczema can be,” Alana said. “Until Koen had it this severely, I didn’t know how debilitating it could be.”
Since his hospital stay, Koen was prescribed multiple creams and antibiotics by a dermatologist. Though his condition briefly improved, it gradually worsened again. The NHS dermatology pathway has left Alana feeling disheartened by the lack of long-term answers and support.
“It feels like the system is more focused on masking symptoms rather than understanding the root cause,” she added. “We’ve had to take matters into our own hands.”
In a desperate attempt to reduce the damage caused by Koen’s scratching, Alana has tried using scratch sleeves and layering his sleepwear. But her efforts have often been in vain.
“He still manages to remove everything and scratches until he bleeds,” she said. “The other morning, I found him sitting covered in blood. He’d scratched through all the layers. It gives him momentary relief but ruins his skin further.”
The emotional toll on the family has been immense. Alana says other children frequently avoid Koen due to his appearance, although her two older sons continue to embrace their brother with unconditional love.
“They treat him like he’s completely normal. They kiss and cuddle him without hesitation,” she said. “But outside our home, he’s often looked at like something’s wrong with him.”
Alana has now taken the step of booking a private paediatric dermatologist after being referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, a decision made to avoid lengthy NHS wait times. She is using the GoFundMe donations to make this care possible.
“It’s a shame that you have to go private to be taken seriously,” she said. “But I just can’t watch him suffer anymore. Even on warm days, I can’t dress him in a T-shirt and shorts—any exposed skin is an invitation for him to scratch and bleed.”
The NHS acknowledged the current strain on dermatology services and said that steps are being taken to improve.
An NHS spokesperson commented: “Thanks to the efforts of staff, more dermatology patients are being seen sooner, but we know there’s more to do. Our elective reform plan is focused on reducing waiting lists and improving access to face-to-face care, especially for inflammatory skin conditions.”
For Alana, this journey has been a painful lesson in advocacy and perseverance. She hopes her story can help other parents facing similar struggles and urges them to trust their instincts.
“If something doesn’t feel right, push for answers,” she said. “Do your own research. You know your child better than anyone.”
The mother is determined to raise more awareness of the debilitating impact of severe eczema and fight for better treatment options—not just for Koen, but for all children suffering in silence.
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