Aberdeen mum, 35, engulfed in painful scabs 'overnight' waited 18 months to see dermatologist

An Aberdeen mum claims she awoke to find she had become engulfed in painful, red scabs 'overnight' - leaving her hiding indoors 'like a monster' as she faced an 18-month wait to see an NHS dermatologist.

Emmy Robertson woke up one morning in summer last year with a dry bit of skin above her eye but it got worse throughout the day and quickly took over her body.

Within a matter of weeks, the 35-year-old said she was covered from head to toe in burning, red scabs across her body.

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The mum-of-two grew even more concerned when her scalp became red and inflamed, before even her hair and nails began falling off without explanation.

Emmy stayed indoors in excruciating pain for months - explaining she felt 'like a monster' and was 'living in hell' every day.

Desperate, Emmy sought the help of her local doctor 'multiple times' but felt her symptoms were repeatedly dismissed and told it would be a 77-week wait to see a dermatologist.

The competition website owner even claims one doctor asked her what they expected to do about it after countless pleas for help.

Emmy, who lives near Aberdeen, decided to consult a private dermatologist who referred her back through the NHS as an urgent case. The mum was diagnosed with psoriasis and put on a dose of medication that cleared up her symptoms within a few weeks.

Emmy has never been given any explanation as to why she experienced a sudden flare-up of psoriasis - and lives in fear that her symptoms could return at any moment.

Emmy said: "It literally happened overnight. I woke up one day and I was covered.

"I started off with a tiny bit of dry skin above my eye and then within a couple of weeks, I was covered from head to toe. I've never seen anything like it.

"My scalp, fingernails, my feet - I was completely covered. There's no family history. Every inch of my body was covered and it was burning constantly. It was like living in daily hell."

Emmy sought the help of her GP when her symptoms first arose where she was told she was suffering a reaction and prescribed some cream.

But further visits to the doctors left her with unanswered questions as her condition continued to worsen.

Emmy said: "No one seemed to know what was causing it. The GP kept saying 'what do you expect us to do?' And that the waiting list to see a dermatologist was 77 weeks. I said 'look at the state of me?' I was crying and begging them to help.

"The doctors were useless, just prescribing creams that weren't working. Nothing was helping. I kept getting dismissed.

"I couldn't even take off a piece of clothing without my skin peeling off my body. I couldn't move my hands, I couldn't drive.

"My hair started falling out and my nails were falling off. Every time I put my hand through my hair, it was coming out. I used to have thick, black long hair which was 24 inches.

"My scalp was so engulfed in psoriasis. It was awful. I told my partner I couldn't do it anymore.

"I felt like everyone was looking at me. I couldn't put on makeup. I was just so embarrassed.

"I felt like a monster. I didn't want to see anybody, I just wanted to stay indoors.

"It was so painful. It was like your skin was covered in flames 24/7. I was inconsolable, I had to take time off work. I felt so hopeless."

Emmy spent around £3,000 on private dermatologists and was eventually put through the NHS as an urgent appointment when she began a new, successful medication in March.

Emmy said: "I was desperate, I would've paid anything. [When I started the new medication] it completely went away. It started clearing up within two or three weeks then it was completely gone.

"I've never had any explanation as to why this happened. Nobody has a clue. I think it should've been investigated.

"I live in fear every day that it could happen again. My life was put on hold."

NHS Grampian has been contacted for comment.