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
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and should not be construed as legal or medical advice, nor are they endorsements of any organization. Med-IQ
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