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Eczema: Everything you Need To Know About This Dermatologic Condition

I was compensated by Med-IQ through an educational grant from Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals to write about the signs, symptoms, and treatments available for eczema/atopic
dermatitis. All opinions are my own.

 

 

My Eczema Story

I never showed any eczema symptoms (less commonly known as atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema that is chronic with symptoms ranging from mild to severe) until the year I went to grad school when I was in my early 20’s. I grew up in Southern California and was used to a warm, dry climate near the ocean my entire life. But when I decided to get my first Master’s in TV Broadcasting in Syracuse, New York where it snowed 10 months out of the year, my skin didn’t take well to the extreme weather changes. And interestingly, it happened almost immediately. I started getting patches of eczema/atopic dermatitis all over my body. I had small, dry, and extremely itchy patches on my forehead, cheeks, arms, knees, legs, and arms. I was so confused why all of a sudden I was experiencing this and also was very self-conscious about all the red, dry patches of skin, especially on my face and forehead. Since it was always so cold, I could easily hide the eczema/atopic dermatitis on my body, since I was always wearing a sweater and pants, even indoors. But as a student learning the skill of reporting, anchoring, and being “on-air” on television, my face was always front and center and makeup wouldn’t even hide my eczema/atopic dermatitis and that is what everyone would see every day. I went to the dermatologist and was given a steroid cream but didn’t love using it because of the strong ingredients, but nothing else seemed to help.

 

After a year I graduated and moved back to Southern California and it almost instantly went away. I then went over 15 years without another flare up until the summer after I gave birth to my son. This time it was summer time and it was hot and dry. And unlike my first flare up, the eczema was only on my fingers. And this time, the steroid cream I received from the dermatologist didn’t help much. In fact, at one point, my open skin must have touched something when I was out and about and I ended up getting a skin infection that needed an additional antibiotic to heal. It was really bad at one point and almost every finger was covered in a band-aid and this lasted off and on (but mostly on) for the last couple of years. I had to avoid warm water in the shower, giving my kids a bath, and even doing the dishes without wearing plastic gloves. I stopped taking the steroid medicine and started using an over-the-counter lotion and it was the only thing that helped me. But because I would constantly have flare ups on my middle finger on my left hand, I haven’t been able to wear my wedding rings in years. It seemed to make it worse and bring on more flare ups when I wore them, so I just sadly avoided them all together.

 

Atopic dermatitis is most commonly associated with other allergic/atopic conditions such as allergy, asthma, hay fever, and food allergies. And I am a long time sufferer of hay fever and have had an allergy to gluten for over a decade, so I am not surprised some of the flare ups had to do with either or both of these. But I somehow managed to get it under control and somehow haven’t had a flare up in months. But I have noticed my son has extremely sensitive skin and will have some dry eczema patches on his back once in a while. So we are very mindful of the products we use on our skin and use bath products that have minimal or no chemicals and fragrances.

 

 

Med-IQ

October is Eczema Awareness Month so I decided to partner with Med-IQ to help generate awareness around eczema/atopic dermatitis, specifically its signs, symptoms, and treatment since we are starting to get into the cooler months of the year. Med-IQ is an accredited medical education company that provides an exceptional educational experience for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals. In today’s blog I am going to share the signs and symptoms of eczema/atopic dermatitis and I will write a follow up blog in a few months discussing treatment options. I feel like the more educated you are about eczema the more empowered you will feel about taking control over your skin!

 

 

The Eczema Mental Health Connection

As a licensed therapist and chronic eczema sufferer, I know firsthand how anxiety provoking eczema can be to have and also how self-conscious someone can be about their skin and body appearance when they have a flare up. I also know that individuals, including myself, have had more flare ups when I have been under a tremendous amount of stress. Atopic dermatitis is also associated with several mental health conditions including ADHD as well as depression due to the severity and chronic nature of the skin flare ups.

 

Thus, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis can have a huge effect on quality of life for both
the patient and the patient’s family. It can affect every aspect of a patient’s life,
including sleep patterns, ability to focus in school or at work, mental health, and stress
levels. This is especially relevant right now–in the middle of a global pandemic–when
people’s stress levels are higher. And as I mentioned, self-image can also be affected; for instance, consider a child with severe atopic dermatitis. If it’s on a part of their body that is visible, other children might comment on their condition and wonder whether it’s contagious. In addition, there is an economic impact to eczema for many patients because over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and treatments can be really expensive. Additionally, some patients cycle through many various treatments, which can be both frustrating, expensive, and stressful.

 

 

Eczema Statistics

-More than 31 million Americans have some form of eczema.

-Around 16.5 million adults in the US have atopic dermatitis, with 6.6 million reporting
moderate-to-severe symptoms

-Although atopic dermatitis most commonly develops early in life, it can persist into
adulthood for many patients

-10% to 25% of children have atopic dermatitis; of which, approximately 1/3 have
moderate-to-severe disease.

-5% to 10% of adults have atopic dermatitis (3% of elderly); of which, approximately 1/2
have moderate-to-severe disease

-Atopic dermatitis affects all races; however, it is more common among Black children
and Black and Hispanic children are more likely to experience more severe cases

 

What is Eczema?

-Eczema is the general name for a group of dermatologic conditions that includes contact
dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and others.

-Atopic dermatitis (also known as atopic eczema) can be a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.-Atopic dermatitis is a red, itchy rash that can happen any time of year; it is often worse in the winter months, but for some patients, it can worsen in the summer months due to the heat and humidity.

-More severe cases of atopic eczema can be quite painful and cover large areas
of the body

 

What causes eczema?

A few weeks ago a team of us had a conference call with Peter A. Lio, MD., Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Founding Director, Chicago Integrative Eczema Center   in Chicago, IL. According to this experienced doctor, we learned that:

-Although it is not necessarily genetic, eczema is about a patient’s genes, and some people may
have certain predisposing genes. Mutations in these gene may cause a loss-of-function
mutation of a protein called filaggrin that helps keep the barrier to your skin tight.

-Patients who don’t make enough filaggrin have “leaky” skin, which weakens the skin
barrier and drives more inflammation, leading to sensitization to allergens and irritants,
and thus, to atopic dermatitis.

-Not everyone with atopic dermatitis has filaggrin deficiency, but it is more
common in those with more severe atopic dermatitis

-Atopic dermatitis is considered to be a chronic condition, and it can occur from a number of things,
like a reaction to food or to something your skin has touched (like wool or even pets).

-It most commonly occurs in babies and toddlers, but it can also occur in teens and
adults

-Parents are often told their child will “grow out of it” or it will “go away,” which
can be particularly frustrating for parents and adolescents

 

 

Survey

Med-IQ is conducting an anonymous survey and would appreciate your input. The survey will take less than 10
minutes to complete. Survey responses are shared only in aggregate. Your responses to these survey questions will
provide Med-IQ with important information about your experiences with atopic dermatitis, which will help us
develop future educational initiatives. Once you’ve completed the survey, you will have the option of providing
your email address to be entered into a drawing administered by SOMA Strategies to win 1 of 10 $100 VISA gift
cards. If you choose to enter, your email address will be used only to randomly draw the winners and notify them
of their prize.

 

Resources

National Eczema Association
American Academy of Dermatology. Eczema Resource Center

 

Links to external sites are provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only. They are not intended
and should not be construed as legal or medical advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization. Med-IQ
bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of any external site. Contact the external site for
answers to questions regarding its content.

The survey contains links to external sites. Any such links are provided as a convenience and for educational
purposes only. They are not intended as medical or legal advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization.

 

#itchyskinhelp

 

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Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

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TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

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🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

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And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

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Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
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I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
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I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
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For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
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These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
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{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
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As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
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It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
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What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
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