Fall is a joyous season for many – it’s a time of cozy sweaters, the height of harvest season, and autumn festivals. For eczema sufferers though, it can be a time of great dread.
Every change of season poses a threat to individuals living with atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema. Most people with healthy skin may experience some skin dryness as temperatures cool, but for individuals with eczema, it can mean around-the-clock itching and skin symptoms, including rash, bleeding, cracking, swelling, skin infections, and pain. Sleeplessness, fatigue, inability to focus, frustration, self-consciousness, anxiety and depression are common experiences, too.
The impact of eczema is often underestimated, especially how impactful itch is for sufferers, says Regina-based dermatologist Dr. Rachel Asiniwasis. “If you ever had an insect bite or mosquito bite – imagine having that on many areas of your body on a regular basis and how that would affect things like sleep quality, work and school performance. It takes a toll physically, mentally, psychosocially and emotionally,” she says.
A 2021 survey reported that 46 per cent of adults with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis described their itch as debilitating and it was reported that 76 per cent of children with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis wake from sleep due to their itch.
Unfortunately, treatments to manage the itchiness aren’t always effective. Currently, her son is on four different topical prescription medications to control symptoms, which she says helps to a certain extent but every time there is a shift in the environment, his skin then reacts. Along with a daily routine of applying topical medications, moisturizers are needed as well. Tanya estimates they spend $200 on average a month going through bottles of moisturizers for her and her son.
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“It’s not manageable at all. He doesn’t sleep; he itches a lot. He is very cranky and tired. I think there needs to be better options for this age bracket.”
Read more: Why Canadians with eczema continue to suffer in silence
Medical treatments require guidance and a prescription from a physician (such as a dermatologist). However, over-the-counter and lifestyle adaptions to support fundamentals of eczema care for sufferers are not always accessible. In remote communities, costs are often hyperinflated and there’s less access. Asiniwasis does outreach clinics in rural and northern areas of Saskatchewan, including Indigenous communities, where access to basic moisturizer, hypoallergenic soap and fragrance-free detergents can be extremely difficult or expensive. “When people have uncontrolled eczema, not only can they get symptoms of itching, skin pain, and oozing whenever there’s open skin, but there’s also a risk of getting skin infections,” she says – of which she’s seeing an increase in remote communities.
“We need to raise discussion around this condition – it’s not just a skin problem,” says Asiniwasis.
Read more: ‘It was really bad’: How eczema affected one woman’s skin and how she coped
Eczema can impact the quality of life in a family and can feel like an isolating experience. That is why for Eczema Awareness Month this November, Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) is encouraging Canadians to share their stories through their Itching for Change campaign.
“We are rallying Canadians impacted by eczema and atopic dermatitis to stand together in support of change, including improved access to care. Eczema carries numerous hidden challenges for those impacted, and ESC is focused on supporting the eczema community. By igniting conversations and sharing the challenges of the community, we want to break down the barriers, including stigma and lack of access to adequate care,” says Amanda Cresswell-Melville, Executive Director at Eczema Society of Canada.
The Itching for Change campaign also offers educational resources for Canadians suffering with eczema as well as for health care professionals, such as webinars with dermatologists to speak about the condition, ways to manage it. ESC also offers a peer support program for those living with eczema.
Tanya says the support she and her family have received through Eczema Society of Canada has been invaluable. “I think having that outlet, connecting with others who have it, and getting to hear firsthand about therapies coming out, all the work that’s being done in the space to support patients, has been super helpful,” she says. “I think they provide a lot of hope to patients as well as caregivers.”
#ItchingForChange? Join ESC! Raise your voice. Visit Itching For Change to get help, learn more and take action. #itchingforchange