For Hasya Jasmin, eczema was more than a skin condition – it affected her daily life, diet and eroded her self–confidence.
Now 28, the visual merchandiser has spent years navigating flare–ups, treatments and setbacks, before finding a way to regain control – by changing her lifestyle.
Her journey began at the age of seven, when she was diagnosed with mild eczema – a skin condition that causes dry, itchy and bumpy patches on the skin – at a government health clinic.
She was prescribed a topical antihistamine and aqueous creams to relieve itching, reduce pain and keep her skin moisturised.
At first, Hasya’s condition remained manageable.
However, by the age of 15, her symptoms worsened and she was prescribed topical steroids to control flare–ups.
“Initially, the steroids made my skin very smooth, but over time, it worsened,” she shares.
“My skin peeled and bled, and the healed skin became tight, making movement very difficult.”
In her early 20s, Hasya sought care from a dermatologist and received more targeted, supervised treatment.
However, the cost of long–term care became a challenge, with little noticeable improvement.
“Although follow-ups were recommended, the cost was high, so I managed it at home using the same treatment,” she says.
“I continued buying the same medicines and creams from the pharmacy because it was convenient, but there was no medical supervision.
“Looking back, I wouldn’t recommend that.”
Hasya later consulted another doctor and began treatment with methotrexate, an immunosuppressant used for inflammatory conditions, but stopped after five months as she felt uncertain about her progress.
During this time, she learned about topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), a condition associated with prolonged steroid use, which can cause severe redness, burning and skin shedding.
“Not many people understand TSW, and it is not always widely recognised – instead, they often classify it as chronic eczema,” she says.
Determined to take a different approach, she decided to start a new routine after her last use of steroids.
Building a new routine
This marked a turning point.
Hasya gradually moved away from steroids and began reshaping her lifestyle – starting with her diet.
“Diet became an important part of managing my eczema,” she says.
“There are many foods I can’t eat, so I stick to what works for me.”
Her meals are simple and consistent, focusing on vegetables and fibre, with smaller portions of rice.
“I usually have a little rice and a lot of vegetables,” Hasya says.
Her cooking is straightforward – often boiled vegetables or simple dishes such as broccoli soup.
Through trial and error, she identified her trigger foods.
“Sweet potatoes, bok choy, carrots and broccoli are fine for me, but tomatoes and seafood can trigger my eczema,” she explains.
Hasya’s experience reflects a broader pattern, says general practitioner Dr Liau Bee Teng, who specialises in functional medicine.
“The skin is our largest organ, and many skin conditions reflect what is happening inside the body,” she explains.
Eczema, in particular, is closely linked to immune function, with the gut playing a central role.
“The immune system is closely connected to the gut, so we often focus on improving gut health first,” she says.
As a result, dietary changes can have a significant impact.
“Eczema is a reactive condition – the body responds to what you eat.
“When trigger foods are removed and the diet improves, symptoms can improve significantly.”
For Hasya, gluten and sugar are key triggers that slow down her skin’s healing.
“When I consume gluten, it can take up to a week for a wound to heal,” she says.
“Without gluten and with less sugar, it can heal in just two days.”
Dr Liau adds that gluten and dairy are common dietary triggers that may contribute to leaky gut syndrome – a condition in which the gut lining becomes compromised, allowing bacteria and toxins to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation.
“These factors can contribute to gut issues in some individuals,” she says.
Celery juice for gut health
As part of her daily routine, Hasya drinks a celery-based juice each morning.
“I believe it helps keep my gut calm, which is important for my skin,” she says.
“My celery juice is simple – just two stalks of celery and one apple, blended.”
Dr Liau notes that vegetable-based juices can be beneficial when used appropriately, but emphasises balance.
“It’s better to eat whole fruits and drink vegetable juice.
“When you drink fruit juice, the sugar content becomes very high,” she says.
“But when you eat the fruit whole, you get fibre, which helps prevent sharp sugar spikes.”
She adds that vegetable juices provide a concentrated source of vitamins and antioxidants, but preparation matters.
“It’s important to also use the right equipment – not a blender, but a slow juicer,” she explains.
“A slow juicer generates less heat, helping to preserve heat-sensitive nutrients.”
Over time, these dietary changes have helped stabilise Hasya’s skin.
She emphasises that consistency has been key to her progress.
“During that time, my skin was easily triggered, but by following this routine consistently, I began to feel everything calm down,” she says.
“It was the first time in my life that I felt well – my body didn’t feel inflamed, and my stomach felt settled.”
Choosing the right probiotics
Many people today lack a healthy and balanced gut microbiome, which is why awareness around probiotics continues to grow.
To support her gut health, Hasya takes a probiotic sachet containing specific strains such as Lactobacillus.
However, choosing the right probiotic is not always straightforward.
“With so many probiotic strains available, it can be confusing to know which one you need,” says Dr Liau.
She emphasises that diet should come first.
“The body needs the right nutrients to grow and diversify beneficial gut bacteria.
“This means increasing fibre intake while reducing foods that may irritate the gut, such as gluten and dairy.”
In her practice, Dr Liau takes a broader approach.
“I don’t just prescribe probiotics – I also use spore biotics, prebiotics and postbiotics,” she says.
Postbiotics are beneficial compounds – such as short-chain fatty acids – produced when gut bacteria break down food, helping to support a healthy gut environment.
Spore-based probiotics, or spore biotics, are more resilient than traditional probiotics.
Derived from Bacillus strains, they are protected by an outer shell that allows them to survive stomach acid and reach the intestines effectively.
“By contrast, foods like yoghurt contain relatively low levels of live bacteria, and much of it may be lost during processing and storage,” she explains.
Finding support
While lifestyle changes play a key role in managing chronic illness, Hasya says emotional support is just as important.
“When I feel stressed, my eczema can worsen, but I’m fortunate to have a supportive mother,” she says.
“She may not fully understand eczema medically, but she knows how to encourage me.”
Her family also supports her in practical ways, helping with treatment costs and daily care.
In addition, Hasya shares her journey on social media, connecting with others facing similar challenges.
Over time, her perspective on healing has shifted.
“When we’re unwell, we expect doctors to fix us,” Hasya says.
“But I’ve realised that healing is something you have to be actively involved in.”
Today, she hopes to use her experience to support others, particularly young people navigating similar conditions and the emotional toll that comes with them.
“Some people who message me are still in the grief phase and bitter mindset.
“I’ve been through that phase too, and having a bitter mindset makes it very difficult to move forward.
“I want to help others, especially those with eczema, build a stronger mindset and understand that what they are going through is a normal part of the journey, and that they’re not alone.
“Their skin doesn’t define their worth,” Hasya concludes.
