I must say that I have reached a stage in my life where I have managed to come to some kind of terms with the fact that I suffer from severe eczema. I've stopped giving a damn about how I look without make-up if I need to leave the house and I know I will never be able to wear or even do some of the things that I used to. This does not however mean that I have become completely immune to some of the comments and looks that people give when I'm having a bad flare.
Working within retail can be really difficult sometimes. You are faced each day with a plethora of customers, some kind, some not so kind. I get quite a few inquisitive remarks asking if it is eczema that I have, alongside some downright filthy looks when they see my hands and arms as I'm packing away their precious new items of clothing.
When this happens, you just have to think that we as people are ignorant and will judge by appearance. Everyone does it. Hell, even me. It's just within our nature as human beings to see something outside of the norm and to not completely understand it. However, it's what you do with your initial judgement that really counts. Some people will look away, some will be rude and stare and even comment, some will look at you sympathetically and others will ask you why you're different.
I don't mind explaining my condition to others, as you can see from the fact I've made a blog to promote awareness, I am more than happy to talk about it. I'm not embarrassed at the fact that I can't control my body, I just become agitated more than anything as I know that when I do flare I will get comments and questions that I know I will no doubt have to answer. A lot of other people I speak to
are embarrassed about their eczema but they shouldn't be. You can't help that you're having a flare, it just happens. Sure, it's annoying as hell having to walk around with a blotchy red face but don't be embarrassed, you are you, you're much more than just the way you look.
Happiness is one of the key ingredients to living a less stressful life, and can even help to regulate your condition, and so it is paramount to not let people belittle you just because you have an illness that is difficult to control. If you are bullied because of your eczema then these people just aren't worth an ounce of your time. These people promote toxicity and need to be severed from your life else they will no doubt allow you to feel terrible about yourself. You don't need that. At the end of the day looks are just looks and don't really matter in the grand scheme of things if you are just able to alter your perception of life; beauty is in the eye of the beholder after all.
Basically, don't let people get you down about the fact that you're living with eczema. You're already going through enough of a battle with your condition to let these added extras bring you down. You are more than your condition. You are you and you can succeed.
I really hope this helps, not just eczema sufferers, but anyone who is facing a hard time with their appearance. :)
