Eczema Awareness Month 2019 – Everyday Health

Purple and orange are the colors for Eczema Awareness Month.

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The symptoms of eczema, commonly known as atopic dermatitis, can be so visible and intense that people living with this skin condition are constantly aware of them. It isnt just the symptoms the incessant itching, the redness, and the inflammation its the sleepless nights, its the depression and anxiety, explains Julie Block, president and CEO of the National Eczema Association (NEA). Its the truth that for many with moderate to severe disease, every waking moment is a decision based on how their skin is.

October is the month when organizations in the United States such as theNEA and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) spread awareness about eczema, its causes, the stigma attached to it, and new developments for relieving symptoms. This is especially important because the disease is prevalent in the United States, affecting 9.6 million individuals younger than 18 as well as 16.5 million adults. (1)

What they are grappling with is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition linked to an overreactive immune system. (2,3) Symptoms include skin that is dry, inflamed, itchy, rashy, scaly, or oozing clear fluid when scratched (a symptom called weepy skin). Triggers for flare-ups can be dry skin, allergens such as pet dander or seasonal pollen,chemical irritants such as laundry detergents or scented soaps,stress,hormonal changes,or infections. (3) Eczema may disappear as a child grows older or continue into adulthood. (4)

Most people with mild symptoms can manage eczema with over-the-counter products, says Block. Yet those who have moderate to severe symptoms can feel worn down by the continual need to avoid triggers or the negative reactions that others may have to visible signs of eczema. Take scaly skin, for example. Some people describe their eczema by saying, Im allergic to life, says Block. The isolation that some people feel is kind of numbing.

In fact, a review published in December 2018 in JAMA Dermatology found that people with eczema are 44 percent more likely to have suicidal thoughts and 36 percent more likely to attempt suicide than those who do not have eczema. The study authors write that contributing factors may be severe symptoms such as pruritus (the urge to scratch), pain, burning, and sleep loss, as well as stigma and feelings of shame. (5)

That is why theNEA has launched the #TheRealEczema campaign for Eczema Awareness Month 2019, whose colors are orange and purple. They are asking people with eczema to share their stories on social media using the hashtag,raise funds for research, and register for theNEA's webinar"The Cure," which took place on October 16.

The best way for people to advocate is to share their truth, says Block.

Also, theNEA is promoting the Understanding AD campaign, which follows the life of a 17-year-old with atopic dermatitis and shows his support network in managing the disease. The biotechnology company Regeneron Pharmaceuticals funds the video series, along withdrugmaker Sanofi. It's the maker of Dupixent (dupilumab), an injectable medication for moderate to severe cases that disrupts the immune systems overreaction to atopic dermatitis triggers.

Meanwhile, the AAFA has launched the #ADinAmerica awareness campaign, encouraging people to share facts about the disease all month through social media.

Use the information below to learn more about Eczema Awareness Month activities, how you can use your voice to fight stigma and advocate for better treatments, where you can find morale-boosting support for managing the disease, and how you can donate toward research or even participate in studies related to eczema.

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Eczema Awareness Month 2019 - Everyday Health