Mandy's story

When Mandy Jumeau moved out of London, she still wanted her twin daughters to be treated at Barts and The London Skin Centre for their eczema as she was impressed by the care they had received.

Mandy has a family history of eczema and her twin daughters, Scarlett and Laurel, developed the skin condition at three months old.

The GP prescribed mild steroid creams to treat the inflammation but when the twins’ skin worsened, they were referred to Barts and The London Skin Centre, at The Royal London Hospital.

Mandy was advised to bathe her daughters twice a day using special bath oils to keep the moisture in the skin, and they were prescribed stronger steroid creams and immunosuppressant drugs.

Mandy, 40, says: ‘Their hands and feet had very dry, itchy patches and cracked sore skin. I had to apply a lot of moisturiser and bathe them.

‘At times it was so bad that I had to bandage their hands to protect the skin and stop them scratching.’

The twins, now aged nine, are still seen at The Royal London Hospital even though the family moved from east London to Purfleet, Essex several years ago. They have been treated by Dr David Paige, Consultant Dermatologist, and Jean Robinson, a Clinical Nurse Specialist.

‘The team have been so helpful that I didn’t want to move the twins to another hospital,’ says Mandy. ‘In particular, Jean has been extremely supportive.

‘She used to visit my house to help me bandage the twins’ hands. She liaises with my GP and if I ever have a problem, Jean is on the end of a phone. I can’t sing her praises enough.

‘Although my twins aren’t cured of their eczema, I feel that they’ve had the best possible care from people like Jean and Dr Paige.’