Ashley, why dont you go ahead and recap what last night’s chapters were about.
Better yet, what were your thoughts on the written assignment about the gruesome villain?
I didnt complete thator many otherassignments.
Photo courtesy of Ashley Wall / Designed by Julie Bang / Verywell
The Constant Struggle
When my skin becomes unbearably itchy, I scratch to relieve the pain.
As a result, Im left with a fascinating mosaic of rashes covering my body.
Essentially theres an internal struggle going on inside my body.
Restless nights, bloody pus-filled sheets, and thick skin flakes covering my floor were par for the course.
I became a test dummy fortreatment options.
Every prescribed lotion, cream, and ointment I tested never reached its full potential.
I participated in clinical trials, special diets, and everything else short of holy water.
While some treatments initially worked, nothing lasted, and my eczema came back with a vengeance.
At camp, I endured the pain ofchlorine, which felt like an acid bath anytime I went swimming.
I sometimes avoided specific social scenes altogether.
Finding Solace in Words
However, I had noticed an odd commonality.
Many of the antagonists featured in entertainment were plagued with visible skin issues.
I became extremely self-conscious.
I felt people feared me because of my flawed skin.
This led me to an undiagnosedskin dysmorphic disorder.
I started my blogItchin Since 87in 2015.
Becoming an Advocate
What happened next was something short of a blessing.
Opportunities arose, and Id gotten to understand what it truly means to become an advocate.
They shared the difficulties of eczema and how it never held them back.
After a while, I knew this was my calling.
Now, I fully embrace my lifes mission as an eczema patient advocate.
Because in my world, eczema is the defeated villain, and I am the superhero.
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Nutten S.Atopic dermatitis: global epidemiology and risk factors.Ann Nutr Metab.
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