5 Ways to Get Involved in Eczema Awareness Month

For a skin condition that affects more than 31 million people in the United States, greater awareness on the issues involving eczema is needed.

One in ten Americans, according to the National Eczema Organization, have eczema, yet the skin condition remains highly stigmatized and misunderstood. Since eczema affects the quality of life of those who live with it every day, spreading knowledge and offering support are crucial to minimizing its effects.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a group of conditions that cause the skin on any part of the body to become irritatingly itchy, red, and dry. Nearly millions of adults and kids struggle with the bumps, redness, discolored rashes, and scaly patches that can appear anywhere on the body, making them uncomfortable and frustrated. 

However, in addition to these visible symptoms, eczema can also profoundly impact one’s life, affecting their mental health and bringing complications that may include: 

• itching and pain
• bacterial, viral, and fungal infections
• sleep problems
• asthma, food allergies, and allergic rhinitis (hay fever).

As infuriating and tiring this skin condition can be, atopic dermatitis is a battle that can be won with the proper treatment, the right mindset, and supportive people around you. In recognition of Eczema Awareness Month this October, Cottonique urges everyone to join, support, and celebrate the people and families affected by eczema. 

Here are 5 easy ways to get involved if you want to help spread awareness of the skin condition, ultimately fostering greater understanding, showing compassion, and reducing misinformation.

1. SHOW YOUR SUPPORT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA 

When it comes to running an awareness campaign, no better tool can serve you best than social media. Increasing the visibility of your mission and expanding your audience by going online is a highly effective strategy. And what's the most effective way to get someone's attention? Use visuals. 

• SHARE GRAPHICS      

Join eczema-focused organization groups in sharing images on social media. While you can explore your creativity by creating your own Eczema Awareness Month graphics, you can also choose awareness images from these galleries:

• CHANGE YOUR PROFILE PIC 

Every online interaction you have features your social media profile photo prominently. When you want to raise awareness on important issues, such as eczema, and engage people about it, profile pictures can help. 

This October, change your pic to a ribbon or add an awareness frame to your headshot, which you can use for a specific time period. 

• USE SOCIAL MEDIA HASHTAGS 

To spread awareness of Eczema Awareness Month and advance the conversation, hashtags can be a potent tool. You can create your own or search for some popular eczema-related hashtags that already has traction like:

2. DONATE TO CHARITIES 

There is no greater sense of fulfillment than providing crucial assistance to deserving causes, needy individuals, and the larger community.

If you want to help future research efforts concerning eczema, why not try donating? Donating funds to an organization helps advance the ongoing studies on the skin condition, paving the way for a brighter future. You may try to send your donations here.

• Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America: Donations to this not-for-profit organization are used to fund education, advocacy, and research on asthma and allergies, including eczema. Read more about how to make a donation or call 1-800-727-8462.

• International Eczema Council: This global nonprofit is headquartered in the United States. It promotes research, education, and care for people living with eczema. Learn more about how to make a donation. You can also email info@eczemacouncil.org or call 1-888-382-3724.

• National Eczema Association: Donations to this nonprofit are used to provide support, education, research, and awareness of eczema across the United States. Read more about ways to donate or call 1-800-818-7546.

3. SHARE YOUR STORY

While facts and statistics are crucial for increasing awareness, sharing stories based on personal experience engages others in a conversation. If you feel comfortable doing so, sharing your story may help someone who previously believed they were the only ones dealing with flares and itchy, dry skin patches. Here are some tips for sharing your eczema story as suggested by Healthline:

• Share snippets on Twitter using hashtags like #eczemawarrior, #therealeczema, and #thisismyeczema.
• Talk about your diagnosis, road to treatment, and management of eczema in a video and upload it on your social media pages or blog.
• Become an ambassador for the National Eczema Association. Participate in advocacy, research, and community outreach.
• Upload and share your story with AltogetherEczema, a global eczema and atopic dermatitis community.

4. JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP 

According to Healthline, a good way to connect with the eczema community is by joining a support group. 

Joining a group gives you the chance to interact with individuals who are likely to share a common goal and are likely to comprehend one another. Being a part of a support group may have advantages such as:

• Feeling less judged, lonely, or isolated. 
• Reducing distress, depression, anxiety or fatigue.

You have the option of joining an online, in-person, or combined support group for eczema. Before you find one that works, you might have to try a few different groups such as Eczema Exchange and Eczema Parents. 

5. BUILD AN ECZEMA-FREE WARDROBE 

Seeing your loved ones deal with the agonizing eczema symptoms can be heartbreaking. We have created clothing that helps people with eczema feel more at ease, restores their confidence, and ensures allergy-free comfort.

Since wearing synthetic fabrics, incorporated with chemical additives and harsh elastics, may aggravate the skin, we believe that the best clothing for people with eczema should be made from organic materials, like 100% organic cotton.

As with other skin conditions, comfort is critical for people with eczema, so make sure that those who experience its symptoms are wearing clothes made with the highest cotton content possible. Good thing, we have put the purity of our clothing as our highest priority. 

Our allergy-free organic cotton collections, made without synthetic fibers and other harmful chemicals, promise allergy-free comfort with every wear. From tops and bottoms to accessories and masks, each piece is made through safe processes, preventing skin irritations and flare-ups.

Head over to our website to find clothing choices made from 100% organic cotton that work for your skin. While we may not be able to cure eczema itself, we can at least control how we live with it.

DISCLAIMER: The information presented on Cottonique is not, and will never be, intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content materials found on this site, from text, treatments, outcomes, charts, graphics, photographs, and study findings, are created and published for general informational purposes only. It should not, in any way, be construed as a standard of care to be followed by a user of the website. 

Thus, readers are encouraged to verify any information obtained from this website with other accurate references and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with their physician. As Cottonique strives to help those with allergies live with better days, the hypoallergenic apparel brand encourages everyone to always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.