The mission As an eczema sufferer, I'm always interested in an alternative to powerful steroid creams. In France patients with severe skin conditions are referred by their GPs for a minimum three-week stay at the Avène Hydrotherapy Centre.

USP The spring water used in all the spa treatments at Avène is reputed to have extraordinary healing powers. Its soothing property may be on account of its long filtering journey through the mountains before it emerges in the springs at Avène.

Ambience Avène is a tiny hilltop village, with a population of about 80 people during the winter. However, when the spa is open, from April to October, you'll find long traffic jams on the hairpin bends that wind their way to the hydrotherapy centre.

It is designed to help those with severe skin problems, and this is reflected in its pristine, hospital-like appearance. The staff are friendly and helpful, and clearly enthusiastic about their specialist work.

Quality of experience Three weeks is the recommended stay at the centre, and would no doubt have lowered my stress levels, and helped my eczema. Unfortunately, I had time for only a long weekend, but even that was long enough for the delightful setting to start working its magic. A three-week stint usually begins with a consultation with a dermatolgist, who prescribes a daily skincare regimen. Typically, this includes bathing and showering several times a day in the spring water.

The centre is divided into individual bathrooms and shower cubicles, to which the spring water is pumped. I had a 20-minute dip in a whirlpool bath, which felt a bit chilly for comfort, but the tepid temperature was designed to calm irritated skin. This was followed by ten minutes in a shower cubicle, with a dozen nozzles propelling jets of spring water all over my body, then spraying me with a fine mist.

Treatments are tailored to deal with patients' individual needs, for example, to help treat psoriasis on the scalp, or even painful mouth ulcers. Appropriately, the centre also offers workshops on applying camouflage make-up.

Products Before my visit, my skincare regime was limited to aqueous cream, a basic moisturiser, but I'm now a happy convert to The Avène range. Products contain minimal ingredients, making them suitable for the most sensitive skin.

In-crowd Families are welcome, and patients return year after year, from as far afield as New Zealand and Canada. The spa gives people with serious skin problems the rare opportunity to blend comfortably with those around them, offering a psychological as well as a physical boost.

Food I'm not sure whether the asparagus risotto, chocolate cheesecake and champagne served at the adjacent spa hotel, the Val d'Orb, are particularly good for eczema, but they were very enjoyable.

Wallet watch Treatments cost from £500 for three weeks; three-star Hotel Val D'Orb starts from £80 per night, based on two people sharing (00 33 4 67 23 4445). A cheaper option would be to rent an apartment: a flat at La Résidence des Thermes costs from £432 a week.

Need to know Hydrotherapy Centre, Avène Les Bains, near Montpellier, South of France; www.avenehydrotherapycenter.com , 00 33 467234187; easyJet and Ryanair fly direct to Montpellier.

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