A mum says she is left "heartbroken" by all the "bullying and disgusted looks" her three-year-old son receives due to his severe eczema.
Ines Dias, 22, said Gabriel developed the condition when he was just a month old in May 2020, before it worsened to the point the eczema covered his whole body when he was six-months-old.
After multiple visits to doctors and dermatologists in the last three years, no treatments were found which showed long-term improvement for Gabriel.
And Ines said the condition is so severe that he has "liquid pouring from his face".
"There is the bullying, the disgusted looks, and the many questions every single day," she said.
“Gabriel’s eczema is so severe that he has liquid pouring from his face, day and night.”
She continued: “We were given antibiotics and cortisol which worked for a few days - but then it all came back. I can’t even sleep with him because his condition gets worse at night and that's when he scratches most.
“The hot weather makes everything worse as well. It’s really heart-breaking seeing him like this. I only sleep three hours maximum in the morning at the moment because the rest of the night is spent looking after him."
Earlier this year, Ines set up a GoFundMe page pleading for donations so her son can fly abroad for life changing treatment in Portugal, reported PlymouthLive.
She found a specialist who uses native plants and natural creams to treat skin conditions and burns.
After raising an initial £4,000, Ines and Gabriel were able to Portugal for an initial round of treatment, which led to improvements in the toddler’s condition.
But Gabriel needs further treatment with follow-up sessions required every three months, so the call for donations is still open and Ines has raised another £4,000.
Ines said: “It will take a year to get the best results, all help is really welcome. It will give me more strength - and a little bit of hope.”
And in a post today on the GoFundPage she wrote: "As we already have nice weather over the UK, (it) has been really itchy but I can see that the sun some how helps him a little over the day."
She added: "The doctor from Portugal who is taking care of his condition said that he needs to travel as soon as possible so he can continue with the treatments over there
"I am hoping to fly with him as soon as I can to continue with the treatments and hope the best results over time. Thank you all for the support given to our family and baby boy."