Qld pre-teen allergic to her own tears, shedding ‘buckets’ of skin

The mother of an 11-year-old girl who is allergic to her own tears and sweat, and has shed so much skin she could “fill a bucket”, has told of her heartbreaking daily struggles.

Summah’s skin was peeling off during her hospital stay in October last year. Picture: Supplied

An 11-year-old living in South Ripley is allergic to her own tears, sweat and dust which led to a terrifying five-day hospital stay last year after extreme skin shedding.

Her emotional mum, Karyn Zimny, describes Summah Williams as “allergic to life,” with the condition continuing to worsen since she moved to Ipswich seven years ago.

In October, the pre-teen was hospitalised after her mother saw the skin around her eyes peeling and became concerned.

“Her whole body just shed like a snake,” Ms Zimny said.

“She lost her eyebrows and some hair. I had to change her sheets daily. She could have easily filled a bucket just of her skin.”

Summah’s skin was red, blotchy and flaking during her hospital stay. Picture: Supplied

Before moving to the suburb in 2017, Summah only had rashes between skin creases, however symptoms have continued to progressively become more painful.

Ms Zimny believes repeated use of steroid cream has been detrimental to her daughter’s condition, and has switched to trialling Dupixent injections every two weeks.

“If it works she is going to be on it long term … maybe even for life,” Ms Zimny said.

“People look at Summah when we go to the shops, and during this flare, everywhere we went, people thought she was sunburnt.

Summah’s face during her hospital stay. Picture: Supplied

“She gets really self-conscious and cries, asking why she can’t be like her friends with lovely skin, but then gets panda eyes when she cries as she’s even allergic to her own tears and sweat.”

Summah is an avid dancer and struggles with wearing leotards as her legs are usually blotchy, comparing herself to her friends with “nice skin.”

Summah was also diagnosed with asthma a few years after moving to South Ripley.

“She has so much trouble breathing outside. She was always sneezing at home until I brought a bigger air purifier to place in her room after the hospitalisation last year,” she said.

Summah isn’t the only child to experience an increase in asthma symptoms after moving to Ripley.

Before moving to Ripley four years ago, Violet Knight was able to run outside easily.

“I could breathe clearly, and I would only cough when I was sick. Now it’s like constantly coughing,” she said.

Summah’s face was red during her 11th birthday party. Picture: Supplied

More than 6000 Ipswich locals have signed a petition calling for an end to odours at Swanbank Industrial Area, with residents issuing a heartfelt plea for clean air, as multiple people claim they struggle to breathe.

MooGoo CEO Melody Livingstone said El Nino combined with the recent weather been extremely difficult for people like Summah with sensitive skin or skin conditions.

“We’re selling an eczema cream every two minutes,” Ms Livingstone said.

“Despite eczema becoming more common, there’s still surprisingly little understanding around how to manage it.

“The impact on quality of life is significant and largely underestimated, and the suffering takes a huge toll. It affects people physically, financially, socially and psychologically.

“As there is no proven cure for eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis, education and keeping the symptoms under control is critical.”