Living with eczema

The way that Healthcare Professionals manage people with eczema has traditionally been about treating their patient's physical skin condition to reduce the frequency and severity of flare-ups. This is partly because 'treating' eczema effectively is good for both sufferers and the NHS and partly because the impact of living with eczema has been under recognised for a long time.

If you have had eczema for many years, you will know all too well that it can also be an emotionally difficult condition to live with. As a child you may have felt different to other children and felt lonely and sad a result – you may even have experienced teasing and bullying at school. As an adult, the emotional impact of eczema can be just as significant, affecting your confidence, self-esteem, friendships and relationships, even affecting work opportunities and career development.

A relatively recent study called ISOLATE (International Study Of Life with ATopic Eczema) looked at what it is really like to live with eczema. The study organisers talked to more than 2,000 people with eczema and revealed the true psychological and emotional burden of living with the condition. Sadly it also confirmed that many adults have received very little support, if any, from their healthcare team on the emotional aspect of eczema.

The good news is that eczema management is changing. Healthcare Professionals are starting to realise just how important it is to provide emotional support alongside drug treatments, so don't be afraid to talk to your GP or nurse. In the meantime, why not find out more about some of the key challenges associated with living with eczema:


Code: 10/13 DIP.11.030 Date of preparation: October 2011