Although eczema is most commonly associated with the rashes and itchiness it causes, people who live with eczema often experience symptoms that are more than just skin-deep. In particular, eczema has been linked to negative mental health outcomes for the people who suffer from it. How Eczema Impacts Mental Health Research has proven that there's a clear association between eczema and anxiety and eczema and depression. People who live with eczema are more likely to experience depression and anxiety. This is due to the sometimes profound negative impacts that eczema can have on people's quality of life and overall well-being. There are a number of reasons for this. To begin with, itchiness and discomfort caused by eczema can cause sleeplessness, which can increase an individual's risk for depression. The unpredictability of eczema can lead to feelings of anxiety. Parents may feel helpless to relieve their child's suffering or guilty that they passed on the condition to their offspring. Moreover, people with visible eczema may feel shame or embarrassment due to their appearance. This, in turn, might lead to social isolation, which can cause or exacerbate mental health problems. Global Parents for Eczema Research (GPER) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2015 by parents of children with eczema. Frustrated by the lack of evidence-based information and resources around eczema and eczema treatments, they created GPER in an effort to support eczema research and advocate for evidence-based medical decision-making for parents. Our offerings include support and resources for eczema caregivers, research, and public policy work to improve care and treatments for people with eczema. Sign up for our newsletter learn more about how we can help you on your eczema journey!
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