Woman, 24, allergic to going on dates with boyfriend

Laura Weaver, 24, suffers from severe atopic eczema.

A woman who suffers from a rare skin condition, is allergic to everything from dust to aftershave and can’t be out in the hot or cold for more than 10 minutes without having her horrific eczema flare up.

It means that Laura Weaver, 24, has never been out for a romantic meal in a restaurant or a weekend away with her boyfriend.

She suffers from severe atopic eczema – which means that boyfriend James Hill, 35, is banned from buying flowers or perfume for her.

Even cooking his girlfriend a meal could end in disaster.

Instead, caring James shows his affection for Laura by hoovering the house from top to bottom every day and dusting every nook and cranny to stop his other half from having a horrific 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, said: ‘It’s affected my 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.’

Laura, who was born with the condition has spent a lifetime applying seven different types of cream to her body in order to keep the crippling eczema at bay.

She 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, who have been in a relationship for over two years, have said that they have made their relationship work despite Laura’s condition and have adapted their home to Laura’s needs.

Laura said: ‘Being with James has changed my confidence and how I’ve seen myself over the last two years, 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.’

James said: ‘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.’