Since I was born, I carry atopic eczema on my skin. In the current time, I try to live normally, but it's hard to control my skin... It stops me doing thinks I like. I follow treatments but they don't help that much. It feels that I am giving everything that I got, yet I don't see positive results on my skin... It makes me feel sad and depressed.
Helder, 19, Portugal
Can’t explain the full story in 500 words. However I’ve had it as small as I can remember. Then it came back to beat me badly in 2014 when I was at Dance College in London. I was LIVING the DREAM of DREAMS. I couldn’t believe I was there. It took me though. In 2015 December I had to give it all up. I’m still battling. I’m still trialling new methods & medications. It’s the biggest hardest journey ever. It’s horrible. It’s harsh. It’s lonely. There NEEDS & MUST be more awareness.
Fay, 25, United Kingdom
I've lived with atopic eczema since I was a toddler. My life is non stop itching and scratching, my face and arms flare up from the warm water in the morning. It's made a lot of things difficult. I'm constantly needing to upgrade my skincare, and it costs a fortune. I have scars from scratching in my sleep, I'm always self conscious about it. However, it has gotten better. Quite a bit better. With a lot of care, things have changed.
Dean, 18, Great Britain
Living with eczema means itching constantly, and scratching in response, and then drawing blood, and trying to hide that. Living with eczema means being told you'll "never be cured" and being prescribed all manner of potions and lotions, none of which work. It means waking in the night in agony, bleeding over sheets and clothes, paying for any treatment that might work regardless of the cost, and scalding yourself in the shower to try to find peace. Living with eczema doesn't get enough credit.
Victoria, 20, United Kingdom
I would like if skin care products were paid by the health insurance, the increased need for them is already a burden, I of course have an increased need for care. More causes-treatment should be explored on the patient as such.
Dirk, 52, Germany
I scratch myself and it means complications, I cannot swim and do sports. I need to spend more money on clothes and cannot have tight clothes nor fully covering shoes. Work clothes can be a problem, the ability to adapt them. I am worried when I am looking for a job because you cannot wash your hands as often as may be needed. The employment service needs to understand that I cannot search for all jobs. >>
Anna, 20, Sweden
The medical world is sometimes so difficult, they do not cooperate. I really had to urge the dermatologist to look further. He did not want to. Eventually, I went to an allergologist and it turned out to become better with dietary adjustment. It’s important to work together and to look beyond.
Eva, 33, Netherlands
In acute conditions, it puts a lot of strain on me, both mentally and physically, and it also puts a strain on finances, healthy living is expensive and eczema limits many things I can eat, and manythings are expensive and you have to be able to afford it.
Michaela, 28, Germany
