After overcoming severe eczema, Jing Rui opens a skincare clinic in the UK, helping others with similar skin struggles.
In the series ‘Singaporeans Abroad’, we highlight the inspiring stories of locals who have made their mark globally, whether through career success, personal growth, or adventurous new chapters. Previously, we shared the journey of Xian Jie, a documentary production assistant turned tour guide in Japan, and Chef Nora Haron, who’s now thriving in California’s food scene. Today, we introduce Jing Rui, a Singaporean who turned her personal battle with severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (TSW) into a driving force to open a skincare clinic in the UK.
Jing Rui’s battle with eczema began in childhood, but it wasn’t until she was 12 that she decided to reduce the use of topical steroids—something she had been relying on for years. This decision led to her experiencing TSW, which causes painful flare-ups after stopping steroid use. “I used to have raw, itchy wounds all over my body,” she recalls. “Just the air conditioning in the MRT would make my skin sting.”
By the time she was in secondary school, Jing Rui began to feel self-conscious about her condition. “I wore longer pinafores and high socks to cover the wounds on my calves, but other kids would tease me.” Her condition worsened as she got older, and by the age of 18, she was hospitalized for two weeks. Doctors prescribed a mix of topical and oral steroids, but despite these efforts, her flare-ups returned with a vengeance.
During this time, her skin deteriorated further, affecting her social and professional life. “Getting up in the morning was painful. I’d scratch my skin raw while I slept, and waking up to find blood and pus on my sheets was common,” she says. This struggle also led her to isolate herself socially, as her skin condition made it difficult to enjoy everyday activities.
Despite these challenges, Jing Rui managed to complete her International Baccalaureate (IB) exams and later graduated from the National University of Singapore, where she pursued a degree in social work. After graduation, she began working as a social worker, but the toll it took on her skin was unbearable. “The air conditioning at work would irritate my wounds, and I felt like I needed help more than my clients did,” she recalls. Eventually, she had to leave her job to focus on her health.
Seeking alternatives, Jing Rui explored Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which offered some relief. But a turning point in her journey came when she met Peerawat Jay, a therapist who had been treating TSW for over 15 years in Thailand. He introduced her to cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) therapy, a non-invasive treatment that helped her skin regenerate. “After undergoing the treatments, my wounds started to dry up and heal, and my skin became stronger,” she says.
Emboldened by her recovery, Jing Rui wanted to help others who were suffering from similar conditions. “When I saw people getting better, I felt like there was meaning in the struggle,” she explains. This sense of purpose led her to start advocating for TSW awareness on social media and build a community of people who understood her pain.
In 2020, after connecting with Louise King, a fellow TSW sufferer from the UK, the idea of opening a skincare clinic in the UK was born. “Louise told me that there weren’t many treatment options in the UK, and CAP therapy wasn’t available there,” says Jing Rui. “We decided to team up and start our own clinic.”
With a start-up visa in hand and funding from family investors, Jing Rui and Louise opened Skin Solace Aesthetic Clinic in Winchester in 2021. The clinic specializes in TSW treatment, acne, and other skin conditions, and has seen rapid success, treating 40 clients a week. Despite the challenges of adjusting to life in the UK, including battling anxiety and the pressures of running a new business, Jing Rui finds fulfillment in helping others. “Seeing our clients improve and feel better about themselves is incredibly rewarding,” she says.
However, it hasn’t been without difficulties. Jing Rui faced her own flare-up during her first winter in the UK, and for a month, she had to stop working while Louise took over the clinic. “The cold weather and the darkness in the countryside really affected my mental health,” she shares. But through it all, Jing Rui learned valuable lessons about resilience and limits, particularly as a new business owner.
Living in the UK has also brought new personal growth. “I love the politeness of people here,” she says, contrasting it with the unsolicited advice she often received in Singapore about her skin. “In the UK, people are respectful and only bring it up if I do.”
Now, Jing Rui feels at home in the UK, where she has not only built a thriving business but also found a supportive partner. “We met on a dating app, and we’ve been living together for half a year now,” she says. “I’m really happy with where I am.”
Jing Rui’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, self-love, and helping others. “After everything I’ve been through, I’ve learned to appreciate my skin, scars and all,” she reflects. “The most important thing is that my skin is healthy and functioning, and I can help others achieve the same.”
