Often times, I find myself absorbing other people’s experiences with eczema. Jacqueline Andriakos, a writer for SELF magazine, posted an article featuring 9 people battling eczema. It was really impactful and I found myself nodding my head a lot at their grapple with eczema.
I would post the whole article but will highlight the quotes and I recommend you read their stories.
I compare my eczema to a dormant volcano: It can lie in peace for a few weeks, months, then all of a sudden it can erupt, and all you can do is hope that it doesn’t cause too much damage. —Lesley, 24
It is not simply something that’s on my skin; eczema is pervasive throughout my entire life. —Kirsten, 25
My skin would get so dry that it would hurt or even bleed when I turned my body or moved my arms or neck too quickly. —Imani, 21
You deal with the internal battle of worrying about what your eczema feels and looks like, on top of normal everyday stress. —Lisa, 39
I have had my fair share of stares, bullying, and rude comments over the years. —Kiran, 29
There are a lot of secondary effects of eczema, like sleeplessness, depression, anxiety, and shame. —Ashley, 30
I used to feel a little bit self-conscious having to explain what my eczema was when someone asked, but then you realize how many people know someone who deals with it. —Isiah, 31
When I’m having a flare-up, it feels like my skin is crawling, and it’s all I can think about. —Sarah, 38
It takes a lot of energy to overcome even the smallest comment on our rashes. We already knew they were there, we just hoped you wouldn’t say anything about it. —Maya, 26
See what’s behind the quotes and read their compelling stories at the Source: https://www.self.com/story/what-its-really-like-to-have-eczema