5 minutes | Tuesday, 29 May 2018
A new UK-wide survey of people living with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, has shown that alongside the physical impact, there is a profound effect on the mental health of patients with the life-long skin condition.
Four out of five (80%) of those surveyed reported an impact on their mental health and well-being as well as considerable loss of sleep. Nearly three in five (57%) admitted to feeling depressed because of their skin, with some even going as far as to resort to antidepressants to try and help the situation.
The ‘Scratch Beneath the Surface’ campaign aims to improve awareness of atopic dermatitis, to shift any misconceptions among the general public and combat any stigma related to the disease.
Holly Shaw from Allergy UK joined us to talk about the campaign.