Q&A: Eczema Awareness Month puts spotlight on disease’s impact on daily life

Key takeaways:

• Eczema affects around 31.6 million Americans with physical, emotional and social impacts to daily life.
• The National Eczema Association is leading an awareness campaign through October.

Eczema, a chronic skin disease, affects about 31.6 million Americans with potentially debilitating physical pain and discomfort, as well as putting a significant damper on their social and emotional well-being.

Eczema Awareness Month is celebrated annually in October, and as part of this year’s informational campaign, the National Eczema Association asked people to share “one thing” that illustrates the disease’s life-altering impacts. Their stories, accompanied by photo portraits, highlight the challenges eczema presents in everyday life.

For more on the latest developments in eczema and how those challenges can be overcome, Healio spoke with Latanya Benjamin, MD, FAAD, FAAP, a board-certified pediatric dermatologist and National Eczema Association panel expert.

Healio: How does eczema usually impact an individual’s everyday life?

Benjamin: Eczema impacts an individual’s life daily because they are either dealing with a skin flare or worried about the next one. They are trying to avoid certain foods, environmental allergy triggers or skipping enjoyable daily activities of healthy living.

Healio: At what point do doctors get involved?

Benjamin: Unfortunately, many doctors get involved after the patient’s family has already suffered for quite some time. They’ve already lost sleep, spent a lot of money with multiple over-the-counter creams that don’t work and have gotten a lot of misinformation.

Healio: What are the latest developments in eczema care of which providers should be aware?

Benjamin: The latest developments to be aware of are newer medication options that specifically target the crucial proteins contributing to eczema, thus avoiding the need to blast or weaken the whole immune system.

Healio: The campaign highlights a young girl named Bailey whose eczema deters social opportunities at school. How can the social impacts of eczema be mitigated?

Benjamin: One way to promote tolerance in school is to speak to the school principal, teacher and classmates in order to educate them about the itchy skin condition and to stress the fact that the condition is not contagious.

Healio: A patient named Kyle highlighted by the campaign scratches until he bleeds due to eczema. How can the urge to scratch be managed?

Benjamin: First, I would ensure that his skin is well-hydrated and moisturized all the time, as we know that just having dry skin alone can lead to itch in the skin. Secondly, for those with eczema, I ensure their itch is managed well with an effective antihistamine dose, especially at night when most of the skin damage that results in bleeding can occur.

Healio: Patients in the campaign said eczema drains their self-confidence and makes it uncomfortable to be looked at and touched. How can feelings like that be overcome?

Benjamin: This is complex, as every patient experiences rejection, low self-confidence and feelings of shame to varying degrees. I feel care from a compassionate and understanding dermatologist and other health care providers is vital.

References:

• The National Eczema Association (NEA) presents its annual Eczema Awareness Month in October, highlighting key truths about the inflammatory skin disease that burdens 1 in 10 Americans. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-national-eczema-association-nea-presents-its-annual-eczema-awareness-month-in-october-highlighting-key-truths-about-the-inflammatory-skin-disease-that-burdens-1-in-10-americans-301941308.html. Published Sept 28, 2023. Accessed Oct. 11, 2023.
• One thing about eczema. https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-awareness-month/one-thing-about-eczema/. Accessed Oct. 11, 2023.