The unintended consequence that struck me down when I gave up Rex – the dog I loved so much – for the health benefits: ‘Stress, grief, worsening condition’

When Paige Mills’ eczema became unbearable, she made the heartbreaking decision to give up her beloved dog Rex fearing he was making her skin condition worse.

The university student, from Sydney, had been living with eczema since birth, but the flare-ups got so severe at 19 that she would scratch her skin until it bled.

‘The itching was almost impossible to tolerate, causing sleepless nights and constant burning, stinging and ticklish sensations, as though insects were crawling all over and biting my skin,’ Paige, now 21, told the Daily Mail. 

‘It was relentless and I struggled to find relief, particularly at night or during hot weather, affecting my ability to relax and sleep. The discomfort and pain were 10/10 – sometimes 12/10.’

Paige was supposed to enjoy what was meant to be her final year as a teenager – instead, she was struggling behind closed doors as her eczema took a devastating toll on her physical and mental health.

‘My quality of life was just terrible,’ she said. 

She found an emotional support buddy in Rex, a six-month-old American Staffordshire Terrier-Boxer cross she adopted from the RSPCA in March 2025. 

‘He was really lovely, well-behaved, very boisterous, active and energetic – and also cuddly and a very good companion. He gave me something positive to focus my attention on and I adored him,’ Paige said. 

But six months later, her eczema started worsening, leaving her with no choice but to rehome Rex after a blood test confirmed she was allergic to dogs. 

‘We thought he might be making my eczema worse, I was heartbroken,’ she said.

‘Having to rehome Rex was devastating. I experienced a lot of grief and guilt because I genuinely wanted to give him the best life possible.

‘However, I also recognise that I needed to make the decision that was best for my health and wellbeing. It was an incredibly difficult decision, and I still find it upsetting to think about.’

Paige, who’s studying for a degree in sports and nutrition science, said Rex found a new home with a ‘lovely lady’ within two weeks of being put up for adoption.

She noticed some improvements in her eczema after her beloved dog moved out – but her excruciating flare-ups ‘didn’t completely disappear’. 

‘I also think the stress and grief of having to give Rex up may have contributed to my eczema worsening,’ she said. 

For most of her life, Paige had struggled with eczema. 

‘I had eczema as a baby but it was mostly dry skin or the occasional heat rash in the creases of my arms and legs, and it was always manageable,’ she explained. 

‘When I turned 19, I started getting severe rashes all over my face and dry skin. I was just itching, not sleeping and breaking out in hives all over my body. 

‘I had red scratch marks all over my skin and severely cracked dry flaky itchy skin on my face. I eventually had to cut my nails short to prevent further damage.’

As she got older, she noticed her face, arms and legs were extremely dry. 

‘It was incredibly difficult to keep moisturised and maintain a protective skin barrier. Sometimes even applying moisturiser would aggravate the itching and make the discomfort worse,’ she said. 

‘The constant scratching caused broken skin and infections, which required steroids and antibiotics. Although these helped clear the infection, they made my gut symptoms worse.’

She tried everything imaginable to treat her severe eczema.

‘I’ve tried everything from nappy rash cream to steroids and bleach baths, and I also bought dust mite sheet protectors. They worked for a bit, but I think my body got used to it again,’ she said.

She spends a lot of time every day moisturising her face and body.

‘It’s frustrating that I have to moisturise a lot,’ she said. 

Paige now sees a therapist after she developed depression.

‘My quality of life had become so poor I got depressed – the worst point was having to give up my dog,’ she said.

‘Eczema has had a big effect, especially during those big chunks of your life where you’ve just finished school and you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself. It’s been tough. When it was at its worst, I missed a whole semester at university.’ 

Her skin condition is ‘pretty much managed now’, with some dryness around her face.

She receives injections of Dupixent, a prescription medicine used to treat moderate-to-severe eczema, every two weeks. 

‘Dupixent has made a significant difference to my condition,’ she said.

‘I don’t want to be on Dupixent for the rest of my life and I am worried about what might happen if I come off it. 

‘For now, I’m focusing on keeping my skin stable and working with my medical team to manage the condition as I need to be fit enough to attend university and work.

‘I need a great quality of life in my 20s where the majority of my life now is so important.’

While managing her skin remains a daily battle, Paige has now found relief with natural eczema and psoriasis creams from MooGoo. 

‘I’m using the Pink Eczema and Psoriasis cream. I slather it on,’ she said.

‘I’ve cycled through so many products and spent so much money over the years, but this is a game-changer for flares so I am sticking with it.’

For those living with eczema, Paige said: ‘Everyone’s skin is different, and finding the right combination of treatments, products and lifestyle changes takes time.

‘Genetics can predispose someone to eczema, but emotional stress, trauma, grief, anxiety and significant life events can also play a role in triggering eczema or worsening flare-ups.

‘Eczema is so much more than a skin condition. It can affect your mental health, relationships, sleep, confidence and overall quality of life. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to go through it alone. 

‘Be patient with yourself, advocate for your health and don’t give up on finding the right support, medical team and treatment. Look after yourself. It’s the only body you have to live in, and you deserve to feel comfortable in your own skin.’

UNSW conjoint associate professor and dermatologist Dr Deshan Sebaratnam said regular moisturising remained fundamental to managing eczema, alongside appropriate medical treatment.

He advised Australians to seek medical care for persistent, severe, painful, weeping or infected skin.

MooGoo CEO Melody Livingstone said the impact of eczema was often underestimated, with severe itching capable of disrupting sleep, school, work and family life.

‘Eczema isn’t just itchy skin. For some families, it means children scratching until they bleed, parents up half the night and painful flare-ups that can take the fun out of summer,’ Melody said. 

‘Summer should be about beach days, backyard cricket and family holidays, not spending the night trying to stop your child from scratching”.

‘Heat, sweat and dry air are well-known triggers, and once that itch-scratch cycle starts, it can be incredibly difficult to break.’