How Mike’s clinical trial experience impacted his life and changed his future
Pushing through the pain and the challenges of living with eczema was normal for long-time Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) volunteer, Mike. He never thought about how his eczema was affecting his life. Instead, he powered through, and that determination changed his life.
Living with eczema
“I grew up with childhood eczema. The treatments weren’t as advanced as they are today, and so I used topical creams while my parents hoped that I’d eventually grow out of it. When the creams started to remove the pigmentation from my skin, we switched to a more natural approach. That’s when I learned the basics of skin care – daily moisturizing to maintain the skin barrier, a habit I still do every day.
Back then, food restrictions were a big focus – no dairy, no wheat. Most kids weren’t eating spelt bread and carob desserts, and I’d often feel isolated and different, even more than I already did given my noticeable eczema. It was especially tough because I was avoiding so much food, and it still wasn’t helping my skin.
I began pushing through my eczema. Even though I played sports, joined school activities, and took on leadership roles, there was always an underlying lack of self-esteem and confidence that came with it.”
A new environment and social stress
“I powered through university, even as the new environment and stress took a toll on my skin. I’d sit in the library trying to focus, but I’d overheat and scratch. I was so intent on earning my degree, gaining life experience, finding a job, impressing others, and serving my community. I never thought about how easier it would be to do all of this if I had effective treatments for this condition. I was so determined to persevere and never making excuses. I always felt that someone had it worse than me. My skin wasn’t bad all the time, but there were challenging moments. I remember once, driving home in the middle of winter, the wounds on my neck crystallized so I didn’t have the range of motion in my neck to check my blind spot. But I kept pushing forward.”
The eczema tipping point
“After university, I got my first professional job. It was a period of a lot of change – a new city, new living situation, and a new job. The social stress showed up on my skin, triggering a terrible flare where my whole body was covered in wet/weeping skin. Despite how bad it was, I kept pushing myself because I was on a contract, and I thought that if I missed work and didn’t do a good job, I’d get let go. At the office, I showed up, and my dress shirts would stick to my skin. I just prayed that no one would comment on my body. All I wanted was to make it through the day, so I could go home, take a bath, and lie in bed before doing it all over again.
Eventually it became too much. I went to a walk-in clinic, and they gave me a course of prednisone and within 48 hours, my skin cleared. That was a big ‘aha’ moment – ‘why have I been living like this for so long?”
Taking part in a clinical trial
“The walk-in clinic physician referred me to an allergist, who confirmed I didn’t have any allergies – not even to food. This was a big shock after years of restricted eating growing up. The allergist then referred me to a dermatologist. This was my first time seeing a dermatologist, and after two visits, they said I’d be a good candidate for a clinical trial.
For five months, I took a streetcar, and then a bus to the clinic once a week. My eczema wasn’t getting better, and I eventually learned that I was in the control group. In some ways, it was a relief because it meant there was still hope. Once I had access to the biologic treatment, it changed my skin and my life. I’ve been on the biologic treatment for over 10 years and my skin is still clear. I also credit my results to consistently following a skin care routine, including daily moisturizing.”
Message of hope
“My message to anyone struggling with eczema is: never give up. Support and treatment options are available. I’ve felt as lonely as someone could feel with eczema, but the resources and community I found through ESC made a real difference in my journey. That’s why I’ve been giving back for over a decade – volunteering with ESC to help others find the same support that made a difference in my life. I’m living proof not to give up hope. Reach out for help, use the available resources and advocate for your own health.”
Mike’s journey offers insights into living with severe eczema and shows how self-advocacy, a supportive community, and ongoing research and education can help lead to better control and quality of life.
ESC sincerely thanks Mike for sharing his story. If you or your child is struggling with eczema and needs 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 2026
