Dear Moira

My teenager is really struggling with the impact that eczema has on her mental health. She wants to wear make-up like her friends, but can’t. She is on social media trying to find out information, but I am worried about what she is reading online. Any suggestions?

Eczema is not just something that happens to somebody’s skin. The impact of it can have larger consequences, especially during the teen years when young people may be struggling with their emotions anyway. 

Young people want to fit in and do similar things to their friends and can find it really challenging when they can’t use products like their peers.  They see on social media constant images of people looking ‘perfect’ or sharing their make up and skin routines. This can really impact on a person whose skin may be flaring and can cause them anxiety and self-esteem challenges.  

On the other hand, we are aware of the often shocking images of skin shared by people who are documenting their journey with eczema and other skin conditions. While this is helpful in raising awareness, aiding young people to find peers with skin conditions and highlighting that not everyone has smooth perfect skin it can sometimes worsen a young person’s mental wellbeing.  

At EOS we are aware of the challenge to ensure young people are getting accurate information about their condition and support for the impact it may be having on their mental health. That is why EOS are now on TikTok – to share tips and strategies and to help engage with young people who are dealing with severe eczema. We want them to feel less isolated and have a safe place to turn for information and support.  

When families of teenagers engage with EOS, we recommend a very helpful book written by an experienced dermatology consultant, Dr Tess McPherson, who has worked extensively with teenagers and young people. The book is called ‘Skin conditions in young people: a practical guide on how to be comfortable in your own skin’. It acknowledges the impact that living with a skin condition can have on a young person’s mental health.   

We also have a Youth Panel of 16–25 year olds. They work with EOS to help raise awareness of eczema but also offer great support to one another, as all members have the condition. For anyone who may be interested in finding out more about our Youth Panel, please click here.