Millions of Brits are living in a cycle of untreated skin conditions with accompanying unaddressed mental health struggles, according to the STADA Health Report 20251, which exposes some treatment gaps in how the UK looks after both mind and skin this National Eczema Week (13-19 September).
The STADA Health Report 2025 independently surveyed more than 27,000 people from 22 countries, including 2,001 aged between 18 and 99 in the UK.
54 per cent2 of the 2,001 British people surveyed reported having skin issues that they actively treat, including acne, hyperpigmentation, redness and irritation and major skin conditions like eczema, which require the use of prescribed products or treatments.
Stress is cited by patients as the single biggest trigger for eczema flare ups3 according to the National Eczema Society, a concerning fact when more than a quarter (28 per cent) of all British adults surveyed by STADA do nothing to support their mental wellbeing and it is reported adults with atopic eczema are typically more at risk of developing anxiety or depression4.
The STADA Health Report also reveals that over one in 10 (12 per cent) of all those surveyed rate their mental health as ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ – rising to 16 per cent among 35–54-year-olds. To manage this, only six per cent attend therapy and just 11 per cent use mental health apps.
Nearly half (44 per cent) of the British population don’t use a moisturiser to manage their skin, while just eight per cent use prescription products for chronic conditions like eczema. Sales of over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream totalled £15.1m5 in the last 12 months, with 10.5m prescriptions of hydrocortisone cream also made in 20246.
Almost one in four (24 per cent) of those surveyed in the STADA Health Report 2025 have no skincare routine at all – leaving many vulnerable to untreated flare ups and long-term skin barrier damage.
Skin conditions are the most frequent reason (24 per cent) why people consult their general practitioner with a new problem in England and Wales7. Yet of the nearly 13 million people presenting to general practitioners with a skin problem each year in England and Wales, about six per cent8.
The report – now in its 11th year – is published by STADA Thornton & Ross1, the pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare giant behind some of the biggest names in medicine and cleaning cupboards in the UK, such as Covonia®, Nizoral, Cetraben®, Hedrin®, Savlon®, and Zoflora®.
The findings also highlight the role of burnout in worsening skin conditions. 70 per cent of UK adults surveyed say they have already experienced burnout, felt on the verge of it, or have had it in the past. Experts warn that stress-driven inflammation not only increases eczema flare ups but also worsens the mental health toll, creating a cycle that is difficult to escape.
Andrew Proctor, National Eczema Society’s chief executive, said: “Most people have heard of eczema, but don’t realise how this complex skin condition dominates the lives of many patients and their families. Dealing with the relentless itching and day-to-day challenges of sore, inflamed, cracked and bleeding skin is hard enough.
“The impact of eczema on people’s mental health and emotional well-being is also huge, as the STADA Health Report shows. Living with a long-term inflammatory skin condition leaves too many feeling depressed, anxious, helpless and socially isolated. We urge everyone in our community to reach out for support when they need it, including accessing the resources featured on the National Eczema Society website www.eczema.org.”
