Eczema Awareness Month Matters

It is well known that October is breast cancer awareness month, but in the past few years being more active in the chronic health community I realized that October is an awareness month for many diseases and causes worldwide. I am grateful that eczema has its month of celebration and pride especially amongst so many standout conditions, and we deserve to be a part of the conversation just as much as any other disease.

Eczema is worth the conversation

Eczema awareness month matters to me because I never knew it existed. Simply its structured existence gives a stamp that we are also worth the conversation. If it isn’t eczema taking the backseat to other inflammatory diseases like asthma, then it is second place to its cousin psoriasis, and it is simply not considered in the same car ride as cancer. So, I am proud to speak up and use this month as a motivator to keep eczema awareness a part of my everyday life this October.

A whole month designated to eczema

When I first learned about eczema awareness month from following the National Eczema Association on social media in 2018 I was ecstatic to rally a voice around eczema. At the time I was a little over 6 months into my severe eczema and topical steroid withdrawal process and fully motivated to speak up for the burden and importance of eczema. That flame will always be in my heart for this month because it was designated for us and nobody can help us as we can ourselves. Sometimes you never get the attention and compassion you deserve unless you scream about it. October is our time to scream and hope that the right people are listening, but even more so hope that it is an upbuilding time for eczema sufferers and caretakers.

The joy of eczema awareness month

That takes me into the real joy that comes from this month. It is truly the community that uplifts and makes it all worth it. Knowing that you sparked a light in someone else's mind or given knowledge so that a caretaker or observer of someone with eczema can be more conscious of their reactions or ignorance on the topic is empowering. We have the right to empower ourselves and it is something that no one can take from us.

It's time to stop overlooking the burden of eczema

Eczema is a well-known disease that oftentimes gets overlooked. As I stated earlier it doesn’t take first place in many outsiders' minds, and sometimes even eczema sufferers overlook it despite the clear burden of it all. Sometimes as a sufferer you are so used to suffering that you never even knew that you had it so bad. It was all simply a part of your life since you can remember, so you make the assumption that it is no big deal to talk about.

The mental toll eczema can take

As a lifelong sufferer of eczema, let me tell you it is a big deal! It wasn’t until I had my breaking point with my topical steroid medication no longer working for me that I was forced to acknowledge the painful burden of eczema in every aspect of my life. People commit suicide because of their eczema. There are statistical facts about high levels of mental health burdens that occur because of eczema. It disrupts key functioning aspects of life, simply starting with sleep which affects every part of our cognitive ability. Eczema awareness matters because there is no scenario in life where eczema does not completely impose itself upon you. Why not choose this month to speak up and save a life!

Tell me in the comments how you plan to empower yourself or others by speaking up about your eczema story as a sufferer or caretaker? Even if it is just one day out of the month, your inclusion will make a difference.