“A key challenge for people living with eczema is the effect it can have on your mental well-being. Anxiety and stress are common triggers that can cause eczema to flare-up, which often results in a vicious cycle where the flare-up itself subsequently causes more stress. Eczema can also impact other aspects of your life, from an inability to work, stigma from colleagues or at school, or simply a lack of understanding and support from your family and peers. All these factors can have a marked effect on your mental health.
- (Partner of atopic dermatitis patient),1
Three adults in their 20s, Amara, Aramide and Zainab, were interviewed to give their experiences of living with eczema.
That’s where life hacks comes in. We’ve compiled real life hacks from real people, which they use day to day to manage their AD, keeping the itching at bay and helping to interrupt the itch-scratch cycle.
Read moreZainab recounted how as a child, she felt the insults more deeply:
She acknowledged that the comments hurt, but wanted to remind others that with time things can and do get better, saying:
It’s not just bullying that can affect your mental health, but by staying calm and stepping outside the situation you can gain control of your reaction to adverse events.
Aramide’s experience of travelling alone is an excellent example of this:
While these experiences are understandably negative, Aramide, Amara and Zainab all stressed that most eczema-related scenarios that cause anxiety and fear can be overcome.
When your body and mind are tired from the physical manifestations of eczema, it’s so important that you prioritise your mental health. More crucially still is that what works for one person may not work for someone else – so find what works for you.
For some, that may be focussing on your best features.