All skin diseases can be difficult to deal with, but that’s especially true for people with eczema, says Piliang. “Eczema can impact school performance and work performance, as well as relationships with your family and friends — it can have a big impact on quality of life,” says Piliang.
“People with eczema report a worse quality of life than people with other kinds of chronic diseases, such as heart disease or hypertension, and they report a worse quality of life than people with other types of skin diseases, such as acne or alopecia. This is especially true if they have moderate to severe eczema,” she says.
In addition, living with eczema can be isolating for many people, in part due to the physical appearance of the rash, says Piliang.
“People with eczema can feel embarrassed or uncomfortable to go outside,” she says.
This is compounded by the fact that any physical activity can make eczema worse in some people, she says. “When they go out into the heat and they start sweating it can make the itching go crazy,” she says.
Worse, the itching caused by eczema is also very disruptive to sleep, according to Piliang. “People with eczema tend to be itchier at night, and it can keep them up or wake them. Poor sleep can lead to irritability, inattention, drowsiness — you just feel awful,” she says.
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