An eczema sufferer who has to lather herself in creams every day is allergic to going out on dates with her boyfriend due to the severity of her condition.
Laura Weaver suffers from a rare skin condition which means she is allergic to everything from dust to aftershave.
The 24-year-old, who was born with severe atopic eczema can’t be out in both hot and cold weather for more than 10 minutes, without her eczema flaring up.
Laura and James pictured above with their pets at their home in Hereford. The couple have been together for two years
Laura (left) was born with the condition which has made her life extremely difficult, as she constantly comes out it rashes (right)
Laura’s allergies have meant that she can’t go out in hot or cold weather for more than 10 minutes
The severity of the condition has meant that she and her doting boyfriend James Hill, who live together in Hereford, have never been out for a romantic meal in a restaurant, or a weekend away.
James, 35, has been banned from buying Laura perfume or flowers and can’t even cook her a meal – as it could end in disaster.
Instead, loving James, who has been in a relationship with Laura for over two years, shows his devotion by making sure their home is free from dust.
James has to hoover their home and dust every day in order to keep Laura’s allergies at bay
Laura and James (right) have been together for over two years, but Laura said it doesn’t stop her feeling bad about herself (allergies right)
Laura (pictured above) has said that the condition has affected her life in ‘just about every way’
He cleans every nook and cranny to make sure Laura doesn’t have an allergic reaction.
Once the house is spotlessly clean, the pair can snuggle up on the sofa together to watch a film – as long as James isn’t wearing any aftershave or deodorant, that could trigger Laura’s allergies.
Laura, a former customer service worker, has said that the condition has affected her life in ‘just about every way’.
‘If we go on a weekend away we can’t stay in a hotel because I’m allergic to the materials in the linen. If we want to go on a date, we’re very restricted to where we can go for food.
‘Going out in a crowd can be a problem because any fumes or deodorant people are wearing could set me off.
‘It makes me feel pretty rubbish, I feel useless to my family, useless to James.
‘If it’s too hot or cold I can’t go out. The longest I’ve had to stay in the house for has been nearly two weeks.’
Laura was born with the condition and says she has spent a lifetime applying seven different creams to her body, in order to keep the crippling eczema at bay.
When Laura and James go on holiday they can’t stay in a hotel because Laura could have a reaction to the bed linen and James has to dust his Hereford home he shares with Laura from top to bottom every day.
Laura (pictured above) applying lotion says when her and James go out – that she has to take all of her creams with her
Laura has had to adapt their home in order to cope with her allergies and needs to store all of her items in a cupboard
Laura said there have been times where she hasn’t been able to leave her home for two days due to the severity of her condition
As well as this Laura has to buy a new pair of pyjamas and bed sheets each month because they become drenched in her various creams that stop her skin from cracking.
Her skin will flare up even if she’s exposed to the smallest amount of perfume or deodorant and if the temperature of a room is too high she gets massive red rashes.
The couple said that they have made their relationship work despite Laura’s condition and have adapted their home to Laura’s needs.
Laura highlighted that being with James has changed her confidence and how she sees herself.
‘But that doesn’t change the fact that I hate the way I look.
‘We sometimes go to the cinema because it’s nice and safe but we try and go when it’s quiet so no one will sit next to me and set me off.
‘When we go out we have to take out all the creams in a bag. We only go to the pubs and eat the same safe food that we know as it’s not worth the risk.’
James said that there have been times when the situation has been tricky, and that they have had to change things around the house to keep Laura safe.
He added: ‘We have to make sure the house is cleaned properly.
‘I tend to hoover the whole house top to bottom every other day and have to dust the house the whole day.
‘Everyone has body issue images and it does get in the way sometimes.
‘Despite everything and the challenges we face, I’m so proud of Laura and love her just the way she is.’
James said that there have been times when the situation has been tricky, and that they have had to change things around the house to keep Laura safe (the couple pictured above together left and right)
Laura said that when her and James go out for dinner they tend to go to the same places
Laura (left) highlighted that being with James has changed her confidence and how she sees herself – right she shows the rash on her arms