Dear friends and supporters,
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary this year, I am writing to share a positive and important update about the future of National Eczema Society. After half a century with our name, and 20 years of our current branding, we are preparing to launch a refreshed brand with new name to better reflect who we are today as a charity and the eczema community we serve.
Our current branding has served us well, establishing our charity as a trusted source of support and information. However, the world of eczema care and the needs of our community are constantly evolving, and so too must the organisation dedicated to leading that change.
Our 50th anniversary is a testament to the dedication of our many members, supporters, volunteers and staff for over half a century. As we look ahead, we need a refreshed brand to engage more supporters to achieve our vision of a world free of eczema.
The world of eczema has changed dramatically since we were founded, and since we last refreshed our brand. New treatments, new research opportunities and a stronger patient voice have transformed expectations for people living with eczema. And we have changed too. National Eczema Society now plays a much broader role: funding eczema research grants for the first time, participating in national steering groups, campaigning for clearer medicine labelling, and ensuring the eczema community has a louder, more influential voice in health policy to improve eczema care.
As we have grown, so too has the need for a brand that directly supports our ambition to reach more of the eight million children and adults living with eczema across the UK, who deserve to be heard and supported.
Our mission remains the same: to improve the lives of people affected by eczema through trusted information, support, research and campaigning. Our values remain unchanged. What is changing is the way we present our charity, so we can better connect with the wider eczema community, be more recognisable and accessible, and strengthen our voice nationally.
Over the coming months, we will share more about our refreshed look and our redesigned website, all launching in early 2026.
Above all, we want you, our members, supporters and community, to be part of this journey with us. Your lived experience, your passion and your support have helped shape the charity we are today, and will continue to shape who we become.
Thank you for your ongoing trust and commitment. We look forward to sharing this next chapter with you.
Warm regards,
Andrew Proctor,
Chief Executive, National Eczema Society
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our second research grant funding round, marking a significant step forward in accelerating research to improve the lives of those affected by eczema.
Building on the success of our first year, this renewed commitment ensures we continue to address the most pressing questions in eczema care, ultimately bringing hope and better outcomes to our community.
In our first round, we proudly awarded four groundbreaking research projects, including vital studies focused on investigating Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW) mechanisms, improving clinical discussions around TSW, exploring women’s unique challenges, and evaluating the effects of environmental exposures.
We are now actively seeking applications from UK-based researchers whose projects focus on advancing understanding, diagnosis, and treatment pathways for eczema. We welcome fresh ideas and approaches from all relevant fields to generate new insights.
Our selection process is designed to be scientifically rigorous and patient-centric. All applications are reviewed by our expert Grant Advisory Panel, which includes our Chair, Dr. Paula Beattie, and a dedicated patient representative, ensuring funding decisions reflect clear value to the eczema community.
Thank you for your continued support as we embark on this journey together. Join us as we take the next step in eczema research!
This Medicines Safety Week, we’re reflecting on how small changes can make a big difference in supporting people to use eczema medicines safely and effectively.
Earlier this year, we were proud to see the outcome from driving major change in topical steroid labelling in the UK, making it clearer and easier to understand the strength of medicines used to treat eczema. After years of campaigning alongside healthcare professionals and the eczema community, topical steroids are now labelled ‘mild,’ ‘moderate,’ ‘strong,’ or ‘very strong’, helping people use these treatments safely and with confidence.
This change was driven by you — the eczema community — who shared your experiences and helped us demonstrate why clear, accessible information is essential for safe self-management.
As part of Medicines Safety Week, we’re reminding everyone that understanding your treatments is key to managing eczema well. Whether it’s knowing the strength of your topical steroid, storing your emollients safely, or understanding when to use each treatment, being informed helps you take control of your skin health.
If you ever experience an unexpected side effect or reaction to your eczema medication, you can play an important role in improving medicines safety by reporting it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme. These reports help regulators monitor the safety of medicines and ensure important updates are made when needed.
We’ll continue working with healthcare professionals, regulators, and our community to make eczema information clearer, safer, and more accessible for everyone.
You can read more about the topical steroid labelling change and what it means for you here.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has approved Delgocitinib, the first and only topical treatment of its kind for adults with moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) when topical corticosteroids have not worked or are not suitable.
Delgocitinib is now the first approved topical pan-Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for the treatment of chronic hand eczema. This represents an important step forward in care, offering a more localised treatment option for people who previously had to rely on systemic medicines for severe symptoms.
Understanding chronic hand eczema
Chronic hand eczema is a fluctuating inflammatory skin condition characterised by persistent itching, pain, redness and irritation on the hands and wrists. The condition is diagnosed when symptoms last more than three months, or recur two or more times within a year.
People can develop CHE due to a combination of factors, including a weakened skin barrier, ongoing inflammation and changes in the skin’s microbiome.
CHE affects approximately one in ten adults. Among those with severe forms, 70% report difficulties performing everyday activities, while 58% say it interferes with their ability to work.
Access to treatment on the NHS
Following NICE’s recommendation, Delgocitinib will now be made available on NHS prescription in England and Wales, with other UK nations expected to follow.
“We use our hands all the time, whether it’s texting, operating machinery, caring for others or simply going about daily life. Yet for many people living with chronic hand eczema, even routine tasks can become painful and life-limiting. NICE’s positive recommendation of Delgocitinib is a brilliant outcome outcome for the eczema community in the UK who struggle so badly with Chronic Hand Eczema.”
Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive, National Eczema Society.
Learn more about eczema treatments and management options on our Eczema Treatments page.
We love National Eczema Week! It’s a time for our community to come together and talk all things eczema. There aren’t enough of these opportunities and it’s important we celebrate our amazing resilience dealing with the many ups and downs of eczema. It’s wonderful to see World Atopic Eczema Day on 14 September getting bigger every year, too.
The daily challenges of caring for your skin, avoiding eczema triggers, the relentless itch and just facing the world can be so daunting. We become expert at planning to cope, but can’t do it all on our own. Most of us rely on the advice and medicines prescribed by the GP when our eczema flares up, and for ongoing preventative treatments like emollients.
That’s why we are encouraging people to ‘Be Prepared and Be Heard’ during National Eczema Week this year. You don’t have much time with the GP, and it’s useful to prepare to get the most out of these consultations. Thank you to everyone in our community who shared their experiences and tips.
I’ve been privileged to be a part of National Eczema Week for several years. It is encouraging to see more people and organisations getting involved and supporting this vital awareness-raising initiative. Working together we can amplify our voice and create a better future for everyone living with eczema. Special thanks to everyone who shared their own experiences of living with eczema, especially Chloe, Luke and Jenny. It takes courage to talk about things that are difficult and very personal. By sharing our eczema stories we help our community be heard, and help others understand how tough it can be living with this complex inflammatory skin condition.
Together, we have the opportunity of being heard and ensuring that people with eczema get the care and support they need. Thank you everyone in our wonderful eczema community for all you do.
Andrew Proctor, Chief Executive, National Eczema Society
To mark National Eczema Week, we’ve launched ‘Be Prepared, Be Heard’ — a brand new resource to help you make the most of your GP appointments.
With space to track your symptoms, write down your questions, and share the impact eczema has on your daily life, this guide helps you feel more confident and ensures your concerns are recognised.
Download it, fill it in, and take it with you to your next appointment. Be prepared and be heard during your next eczema appointment.
Download our resource and learn more about National Eczema Week.