ESC shares the powerful story of a young man, Kyle, who has lived with atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, for most of his life. Kyle tells us about this journey with eczema and his dedication to helping other eczema warriors.
“Living with eczema has been a lifelong journey for me, full of challenges. I’ve dealt with the itch for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until I was 10 or 11 that I started to understand how much eczema impacted my life and how annoying it was. I was itchy all the time. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t do anything. All my friends wanted to play sports. I’d love to play, but when I sweat too much, I get so itchy that I can’t do anything.
Before starting my current treatment, eczema covered 90% of my body. It wasn’t just about the itch; I missed so much school, and I was bullied. It was a cluster of emotions and pain. When I was 15, my family, best friend, and I attended the Life with Eczema patient conference in Toronto. I met other people, like me, who were living with eczema. It made me realize how important it is to talk about eczema because staying silent doesn’t help anyone.”
Eczema is often underrepresented or treated as a minor condition. Kyle shares, “There’s a misconception that eczema is just a rash or an itch. But it’s so much more. I’ve seen people really struggle. It’s important to realize that eczema can also affect your mental health, social life, and overall health. It often feels like there isn’t enough support or awareness out there.”
Kyle also shares the same feelings as many in our patient community, that advocacy is essential, “Even the government doesn’t understand the severity of eczema. Advocacy is crucial, especially for those in Canada. Many people feel lost trying to navigate their eczema, and we need access to treatments that work – and lots of options because one treatment doesn’t work for everyone.”
Kyle is a devoted advocate, and for him, it’s in the family, “My mom, Jenn, and I are passionate about breaking the stigma that eczema is just an itch. We want to support others and show them that it’s much more than that. Eczema runs deep—it affects lives, and it’s often not taken seriously.”
Kyle reminds us that community can help, “Hearing from others who have experienced similar struggles can be incredibly tough, but it motivates me to help. I want to make sure others don’t have to go through what I did. Your eczema doesn’t define you. You define yourself. You can’t let eczema take over your life. It will always be a part of you, but you can learn to manage it. There’s a community out there ready to support and share in your journey.”
ESC sincerely thanks Kyle for sharing his story. If you or your child is struggling with eczema and need urgent care, go to your nearest emergency department. If you need support, email ESC at info@eczemahelp.ca or connect with us through our social media channels.
September 2024
