South London Mother Launches Skincare Business After Eczema Struggle
A single mother from Penge has revealed how her battle with severe eczema and steroid cream withdrawal led her to create her own skincare business after reaching a point where she felt "scared" to leave her house. Abeola Johnson, 38, developed Derma Warrior in 2021 after years of struggling with chronic skin conditions that traditional medical treatments failed to resolve permanently.
The Vicious Cycle of Steroid Cream Dependency
Johnson explained that she had dealt with eczema since childhood, with doctor visits and emollients providing only temporary relief. As she grew older, healthcare professionals prescribed topical steroid creams to manage her symptoms. However, she discovered she had unknowingly been using a cream containing steroids purchased from a local shop, which wasn't clearly labeled.
"I was blindly using it," Johnson told MyLondon. "Every time I stopped using it, it would come back worse. I'd then go to the GP and they'd prescribe me more steroid cream. I was stuck in a vicious cycle."
The withdrawal symptoms when she attempted to stop using steroid creams became debilitating. Her skin would become thin and fragile, cracking with movement, while experiencing significant oozing and flaking that made her self-conscious about her appearance.
Social Isolation and Personal Struggle
The physical symptoms took a severe toll on Johnson's daily life and social interactions. She described being unable to perform basic tasks like doing her youngest daughter's hair because her hands were so severely affected. The visible nature of her condition led to social anxiety and isolation.
"My skin was flaking - I'd look scary," Johnson recalled. "I'd see my neighbours and sometimes run back in because I didn't want to talk to them or let them see me like that. Or you'd have people take a step back from me because they didn't want to catch it."
This experience of feeling "scared" that neighbors would see her condition became a turning point that motivated her to seek alternative solutions beyond conventional medical treatments.
Creating Derma Warrior from Personal Need
Driven by her own suffering, Johnson began researching natural alternatives and developed a zinc balm specifically designed to address her symptoms. The formulation helps dry out weeping skin while minimizing itching and supporting skin cell regeneration.
"I never had any intention to start a business," Johnson emphasized. "It was only when family and friends reached out because they were suffering and they saw what I was able to do with my skin."
What began as personal experimentation evolved into a business when others noticed her remarkable skin improvements and requested her homemade remedies for their own skin issues.
Transformation Beyond Physical Healing
The results extended far beyond physical improvements. As Johnson's skin healed, her confidence and mental health significantly improved. She described experiencing what felt like "PTSD" whenever she noticed any skin irregularities during her recovery, but now feels more secure going out in public knowing she has effective tools to manage her condition.
Johnson has become an advocate for greater education about the long-term effects of topical steroid creams, noting that many people remain unaware of potential risks and alternatives.
"We are programmed that we need a tablet to fix everything, but we need more education," she stated. "There are so many factors that can lead to flare ups, such as stress. There are long-term effects and damage that prolonged use of steroid creams that I don't think many are aware of."
Balancing Business and Family Life
Running Derma Warrior while raising three children as a single mother presents ongoing challenges. Johnson has developed strategies to manage her time effectively, including waking early to work while her children sleep and relying on her support system.
"Running a business with three children is a hard balance," she acknowledged. "You have to prioritise. Having a support system helps tremendously and being able to lean on them is key."
Despite the difficulties of entrepreneurship, Johnson finds motivation in messages from customers who express gratitude for her products. These testimonials encourage her to continue developing natural skincare solutions that address conditions often poorly served by conventional treatments.
Johnson's journey from being "scared" to leave her house due to eczema to becoming a skincare entrepreneur demonstrates how personal health struggles can transform into innovative business ventures that help others facing similar challenges.
