Eczema Awareness

My journey with eczema has become a major part of my testimony. Its impact on my body had put my mental health at risk, leading to many external and internal consequences. Growing up there was a major lack of resources from my medical provider(family practitioner) who only prescribed topical steroids, and tried a bi-weekly injection, and I still don’t know today what it was exactly. I come from a family where the majority of the women have eczema, my mom, my oldest sister, and two nieces under four, and many external family members have had similar flares. Although many of those around me lived with it, none took the time to learn about it truly.

Throughout my life, my skin prevented me from participating and trying new and different things. I was worried about reactions to foods, irritations with fabrics, and of course judgment from others. The rotating phrase “no one will like you with an open wound” seemed to tear it wider, and eventually pushed me down a deeper and darker hole. Things started to change with my confidence as I reached college. There I switched my long pants to short skirts, and traded my baggie sweaters and long sleeves for crop tops and cute dresses, symbolically detailing the shift into becoming comfortable. It’s when I began to reenvision my beauty.

As I approached my second year of my Master’s, the stress triggered a flare that spread from my head to my waste. Water would burn when it touched my skin, I’d wake up and my sheets would be damp from the opened wounds, my clothes were hard to wear, it caused major sleep and fatigue issues, and more. And living two states away from my primary didn’t make it easier. As we did telehealth appointments, she prescribed topical steroids that helped for the moment but as soon as I would stop the flares started to return.

Although my primary doctor meant well, I longed for someone to point me in an alternative direction, or at least towards a community that has lived experiences of different treatments. In my search, I finally found the National Eczema Association when scrolling through Instagram. As fate would have it, they were having a conference, Eczema Expo 2022, in my state. On their site, I found articles, links to case studies, and people who were living their fullest lives with successful modifications.

That summer in 2022 I was able to attend the Eczema Expo last minute, and then again the next year in 2023. Although it sounds like a conference where you just see doctors rolling around, it really wasn’t. It was a time for “uniting people who have eczema, their caregivers, healthcare professionals, and industry ecz-perts — for four days of education, support, connection, and family fun.” I had finally found community, friends, and a family to learn, rant, and heal with.

After learning about NEA and how they positively contribute to eczema patients through research and engagement, I decided to become an NEA Community Outreach Ambassador. Allowing me to share the resources and community I desperately needed growing up.

As I grow the confidence within myself I acknowledge that eczema had become this bully in my head that made violence against my skin and I refuse to let that define my capabilities and worth. It’s an added characteristic that has modified my thoughts on health, beauty, and diversity. And I see how it has dramatically reflected in the relationships that I build today. I cannot wait to share more about my journey and experiences and how I have become an advocate for myself and others.