Let's be honest, eczema is more than just a skin problem. Particularly, but not only, when you are young.
Surrounded daily with images of perfection in the media, peer pressure to fit in, the physical and psychological effects of eczema are often traumatic for teenagers and adults alike.
30 million people in the USA have some form of eczema.That is why eczema is the number one reason people visit a dermatologist.
Eczema often comes and goes in cycles, meaning that at some times of the year sufferers are able to feel normal, while at other times they will distance themselves from social contact. Sufferers with visible marks can act normal, but when it is mentioned they become withdrawn and self-conscious. Since it is a condition made worse by scratching, a sufferer with highly visible sores aggrivated by scratching often feel as if everyone is looking at the marks and that it is their own fault.
Do not scratch.Although scratching does give pain, the sense of release can lead to problems with constant scratching. You don't have to have eczame to appreciate the relief from an itch that a good scratch can give you. For eczema sufferers it is not that straight forward. Sufferers often shy away from scratching in public, but the solution is to scratch in privacy.
,br />In cases of children with eczema, visible scars or scratch marks can lead to suspicion of home abuse or self-mutilation, which causes possible peer rejection and may add to a general level of stress.
TreatmentGetting treatment or finding a treatment that works is important not just for your skin but for your mental well being. Relieving the pressure psychologically can relieve the physical signs.
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