From feeling anger to shame, here’s why it’s more than skin deep.
Those who have suffered through severe eczema know that living with the condition can go well beyond the physical side of things. Dealing with unrelenting eczema—the constant pain, the anger at your own body, the stress of trying treatment after treatment, and, ultimately, the stigma tied to visible
The emotional stress Moore experienced as a result of her eczema symptoms also trickled into other aspects of her life, such as being physically active, which Moore, who is also a certified personal trainer, is especially passionate about. One of the biggest game-changers for her has been finding the right dermatologist. Gorin feels fortunate that her dermatologist is proactive. Knowing he won’t hesitate to help her when she’s flaring eases some of the stress—it’s comforting to know that she will get good medical care relatively quickly when she needs it.
Bourne-Peters still hasn’t landed on a treatment that truly works well for her, and has had a more difficult time concealing her flare-ups as an adult compared to when she was a child. However, she has found some emotional solace in facing her own insecurities head-on, as well as accepting that she’ll need to be patient about potentially finding a solution.
At the start of 2021, Alexander learned about topical steroid addiction and withdrawal, a set of adverse effects that are associated with the overuse of topical steroids, per the. It sounded a lot like the severe eczema symptoms she was experiencing. Alexander decided to stop using the medications she had been prescribed nearly all her life in hopes that it would help improve her severe symptoms. During this time, her skin got worse before it got better.