Heartbreaking pictures show the nightmare effects of eczema on little one-year-old Harley Meakin who has been suffering with the condition since he was born
A mum has shared her heartbreak over not being able to hold her baby because his skin is too sensitive and leaves him “screaming” in pain.
Paige Meakin, 23, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, says her son Harley, is constantly “scratching and crying in discomfort” due to his skin condition. Despite his problem being common, nothing seems to be relieving the “horrible” symptoms that eczema presents. By seven weeks old, the infant had noticeably started displaying signs of infection as he battled with itchy, open wounds. Sadly, when his mum tried to pick him up, it would trigger excruciating pain. His most recent flare-up lasted for almost two months, said Paige.
The full-time mum says the family visited the GP more than 30 times in just one year. Speaking about the ordeal, Paige said: “Everything we try and use just doesn’t help – we even resorted to using anti-fungal cream meant for athlete’s foot. The longest I have seen his face clear is around two to three weeks.
“Harley struggles with constant itching, and at night, he often lies awake for hours, scratching and crying in discomfort – it’s horrible. I can’t even give him a cuddle to comfort him because he just screams and wants us to get off him. I honestly do not know what to do to help him anymore.”
The little boy also suffers multiple food allergies – including egg, wheat, oats, and soya – as well as an allergy to the protein in cow’s milk, which left him breaking out in rashes and screaming in distress after every feed. With the arrival of warmer days, the toddler has finally been able to enjoy the outdoors with his sister – but even these simple moments of joy are often cruelly cut short by his condition.
Most recently, a carefree splash in the water ended in tears, as Harley was rushed back indoors. The combination of heat and moisture had triggered yet another painful eczema flare-up.
The toll of Harley’s condition weighs heavily on the whole family – especially his three-year-old sister, Lyla. “When I had to bring him back inside today, Lyla started crying,” his mum said. “She just wanted to play with him outside and doesn’t understand the eczema or allergies – she just sees the flare ups and says Harley’s poorly again.”
Paige started using her TikTok account to share Harley’s journey – raising awareness and giving an honest look at what eczema in babies really looks like. One of her videos, in which she expressed her frustration over the 12-month wait for a dermatology appointment, quickly went viral – gaining over 800,000 views and more than 32,000 likes.
As a newborn, Paige and Ellis, 30, noticed their son Harley seemed “constantly unsettled and uncomfortable” at just two weeks old. He was diagnosed with cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) at five weeks old – finally giving Paige and her family some answers.
At just over six weeks old, Paige faced a fresh challenge when Harley’s skin broke out in a “painful, red rash” – a flare-up that led to an eczema diagnosis, first triggered by his CMPA. In addition to topical creams, Harley follows a strict plant-based diet due to his allergies and has been on Neocate, a hypoallergenic formula, since he was six weeks old.
To help protect his fragile skin, Paige takes extra precautions including using non-bio laundry detergent, dressing him in 100% cotton clothing and placing socks over his hands to stop him from scratching. “We’ve tried countless creams and followed everything our GPs have told us to do, but nothing has made a real difference,” Paige explained.
Harley’s family have been referred for three specialist appointments, including allergy testing, a dietitian, and a dermatologist, but are stuck on a 12-month waitlist.
Now Paige has started a GoFundMe to raise funds for private medical care. Paige said: “I was just so disappointed with the wait.He’ll be two by the time they see him – and I just think that’s awful. I know the NHS is struggling, but he’s just a baby.”
Since starting the GoFundMe, Paige has raised over £5,000 – enough to cover a private dermatology appointment, private allergy testing, a consultation with a private dietitian, and a blood test to rule out any underlying autoimmune conditions. She also plans to use part of the funds to purchase specialised eczema-friendly clothing and bedding to help make Harley more comfortable.
Eczema affects one in five children in the UK, and with the remaining funds, Paige hopes to create care packages for other families navigating the same challenges. “I just want Harley – and every child who suffers with eczema – to not feel uncomfortable every day, and to be able to be just as carefree as other children their age,” Paige said.