Event, Video / 05 Sep 2018

World Skin Health Day

We recently marked a first for Australia by raising understanding of eczema on World Skin Health Day.

Some of our members have something they need you to understand. Please watch their video and messages.

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TONIGHT: Ditch the Itch - Teen Support Meeting 7PM AEST / 8PM AEDT

Final hours to register to join us: https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/events/ditch-the-itch

If you have already registered, check your email for a link to the meeting room.

Looking forward to chatting tonight!

#DitchtheItch #eczemasupportgroup #itchy #EczemaSupportAustralia

Last chance to register for tomorrow's online support meeting for teenagers - discussing strategies to 'Ditch the Itch'.
👉https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/events/ditch-the-itch

This meeting is a platform for teenagers with eczema to come together and discuss tips and suggestions for managing daily routines. Parents and friends are also welcome to show their support and join the conversation online.

These events are part of our itchY community, a place for teens to meet, share and find comfort from each other and discuss all things eczema www.itchy.group/join.

#DitchtheItch #eczemasupportgroup #itchy #EczemaSupportAustralia

Join us next Wednesday (18 Jan) to discuss strategies to 'Ditch the Itch'.
👉https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/events/ditch-the-itch

We are hosting this online support meeting, especially for teenagers with eczema. Parents and friends are also welcome to join the conversation online.

These events are part of our itchY community, a place for teens to meet, share and find comfort from each other and discuss all things eczema www.itchy.group/join.

#DitchtheItch #eczemasupportgroup #itchy #EczemaSupportAustralia

As we start the new year and prepare for the new school year, we encourage you to start a conversation with your child's educators about eczema. We have the tools you to develop a plan together for the wellbeing of your child. Here's a link to our Eczema School Kit: https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/school-kit/
#eczemaschoolkit #eczemasupport #backtoschool #eczema

Register for our next itchY – online teen support meeting ‘Ditch the Itch’ – Wednesday 18 January 7PM AEST / 8PM AEDT https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/events/ditch-the-itch.

Join us as we discuss together tips and tricks to Ditch the Itch. This online meeting is a safe place for teens and young adults to come together and share understanding and pointers for living with eczema. Bring along your questions and your ideas for reducing the itchY symptoms of eczema. We will also have health professionals on hand to provide additional information. Parents and friends welcome.

Register to receive your Zoom link. This online meeting will be 7pm QLD time, 8pm NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, 7:30pm SA, NT, 5pm WA.

itchY is an online community just for teens to meet, share and find comfort from each other and discuss all things eczema www.itchy.group/join.
#DitchtheItch #eczemasupportgroup #itchy

Register for our next itchY – online teen support meeting ‘Ditch the Itch’ – Wednesday 18 January 7PM AEST / 8PM AEDT https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/events/ditch-the-itch.

Join us as we discuss together tips and tricks to Ditch the Itch. This online meeting is a safe place for teens and young adults to come together and share understanding and pointers for living with eczema. Bring along your questions and your ideas for reducing the itchY symptoms of eczema. We will also have health professionals on hand to provide additional information. Parents and friends welcome.

Register to receive your Zoom link. This online meeting will be 7pm QLD time, 8pm NSW, VIC, ACT, TAS, 7:30pm SA, NT, 5pm WA.

itchY is an online community just for teens to meet, share and find comfort from each other and discuss all things eczema www.itchy.group/join.
#DitchtheItch #eczemasupportgroup #itchy

From all at Eczema Support Australia and our families, Merry Christmas!

We are here throughout the holiday period to support all Australians impacted by eczema. We look forward to providing more support projects to you in 2023.

#eczemasupport #eczema #MerryChristmas

😎 Do’s and Don’ts this Summer with #eczema

As with anything that goes on the skin, patch test first.

A bit like the sunscreens – you can have different styles of repellents – mainly DEET, Picaridin and the ‘natural’ repellents such as citronella. Ones with DEET have always proven to be very effective but can be harsh on plastics or clothing, but the new ones with Picaridin are also very effective and seem to be better tolerated due to the very low odour.

Other tips for insect repellent;
• You can spray the repellent on your clothes instead of directly on the skin (some are even specifically marketed for this purpose, some of our members have been doing this with existing repellents for years)
• Wear cotton long pants and tops with long sleeves
• Use mosquito nets over your child’s bed/cot
• Avoid being out at dusk and being near stagnant water

How does your skin react when using insect repellents? Comment below 👇

Please support our call for State and Federal health systems to recognise and provide dedicated support for over 1 million Australians suffering the long term physical, psychological and financial impacts of eczema.

Sign and share our #SaveOurSkin petition that we will take to our health system decision makers to put eczema on the agenda in Australia.

👉 www.change.org/ESA_SaveOurSkin

As Jessica shared when she signed: "Eczema affects every aspect of a sufferers life. The pain, the embarrassment, the financial cost of looking for answers..."

Signing our petition will help us provide more help and support for Jessica and others like her in Australia.

😎 Do’s and Don’ts this Summer with #eczema

It can be difficult to find appropriate summer clothing for eczema skin – especially in our Australian summer. Often eczema skin needs to be fully covered to prevent too much UV exposure or to prevent the scratching and infection cycle that goes with eczema.

Light weight pure cotton or bamboo seems to be the best materials for eczema, although fine merino wool and silk garments especially made for eczema can be an option. In summer, if you have to keep the skin fully covered, it is important to keep skin cool at the same time – so often air-conditioning is essential.

For swimming, standard rashies and swimwear can be great for UV protection, but often cause trapped sweat and irritation if left on too long after swimming.

Share your tips how you cover up in the sun, comment below 👇

"So, I decided to start itchY, a collaborative project with Eczema Support Australia. It's a support group to help young people manage all the side effects of eczema and not just the physical. Somewhere we can share our stories and just have a laugh."
Our inspirational Rheanca is a Heywire winner and so much more. Join Rhea on January 18th for our first 2023 itchY Peer Support Meeting for the topic "Ditch the Itch": Register through itchy.group/18Jan23 and join our closed group; itchy.group/join

Full article here - https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/heywire-winner-rheanca-qld/101680152

Common question: Which sunscreen is best for eczema?

😎 Do’s and Don’ts this Summer with #eczema

We are often asked about sunscreens and it seems to be a different answer for each person. Children/babies with eczema often react to sunscreens and sometimes, it is a case of trial and error. This is where patch testing is essential - always test the cream on a small patch of skin first.

Sunscreens come in two main categories – Physical blockers or Chemical blockers. Chemical blockers work by absorbing into the skin, absorbing the UV rays, converting the rays into heat and then releasing them from the body. Physical blocker sunscreen works by sitting on the skin's surface and reflecting the UV rays.

Therefore, eczema skin may benefit from physical blockers as they do not generate as much heat (an enemy of eczema) and often have fewer ingredients that can cause skin reactions. Physical blockers often use minerals, usually zinc or titanium oxide based.

More tips for sunscreen usage – apply moisturiser at least 30 minutes prior to applying the sunscreen. Try to avoid thick, greasy sunscreens or ones with fragrances. Avoid applying to sandy skin as the friction can hurt and cause more broken skin.

If you are still struggling to find a sunscreen that agrees with your skin, there are other ways to get out and about while minimising damaging UV rays. Use a UV suit or loose cotton/bamboo clothing and a hat with a wide brim.

How many sunscreens have you tried? Comment below 👇

It can be difficult to navigate through the psycological, emotional, and physical affects eczema can have. Eczema can often trigger the emotions of feeling lonely and self conscious, it is tricky to control and unpredictable, so it can flare up at any time.

We share some advice to help teenagers with eczema in our teenagers with eczema factsheet, accessible via our Eczema Resource Library: https://www.eczemasupport.org.au/resource-library.

👉 Join our teenagers with eczema community itchY - www.itchY.group/join.

😎 Do’s and Don’ts this Summer with #eczema

Sand and eczema are not good friends. It does irritate sensitive skin, but there are things you can do if you still want to head to the beach with your little ones. A great idea is to provide a sand free area using an upside down fitted bed sheet. Just place some cool boxes (esky’s in Australia) or big bags in each corner and pull up the sides to create a relatively sand free area. And don’t forget to rinse off as soon as possible after sand exposure to prevent any grains of sand rubbing sensitive skin.

How does the sand impact your skin? Comment below 👇

This #GivingTuesday, there are many ways to give.

FINANCIALLY. Eczema Support Australia relies on donations from amazing supporters just like you. You can support the work we do by clicking on this link www.eczema.support/donate.

VIA YOUR WORDS. Another way to give is to share a testimonial or recommendation of Eczema Support Australia. Sharing your stories of support not only encourages us to keep doing what we do but also helps guide our future so we can focus on the areas with the greatest need.

Not everyone is in a position to make financial donations, but supportive words are worth their weight in gold. This #GivingTuesday, take the challenge to share a few words on the impact of Eczema Support Australia in your life. Please leave a comment below👇

This comment from Kate is one we hear often: "Unless you have eczema, you will NEVER understand."

The impact of eczema may be felt across all facets of life, including education, personal relationships and work. People living with eczema have reported experiences of social isolation, severe sleep deprivation and exhaustion, and serious impacts on their mental health. There is also a significant financial burden due to an inability to consistently work and the out-of-pocket costs associated with managing eczema.

This is why we started the #SaveOurSkin petition. We will lobby our State and Federal health systems to recognise and provide dedicated support for over 1 million Australians suffering the long term physical, psychological and financial impacts of eczema and put eczema on the government agenda.

Show your support for Kate and other eczema patients across Australia, sign and share the petition.

👉 https://www.change.org/esa_saveourskin

Myth OR Fact: “Only children get eczema” - COMMENT BELOW 👇

This is a total MYTH! The FACT is, Eczema can occur at any age and that is why adults should pay attention to warning signs.
While the majority of cases appear in babies and disappear from about six years of age, the condition can continue into adulthood or develop in adults and cause as much heartache and distress as in all ages.
Patients who present with eczema later in life without any prior skin issues should seek further medical testing to rule out underlying causes such as allergies or reactions to new medication.
#eczema #eczemamyths

As if being a teenager isn't hard enough. Add in managing a chronic disease such as eczema on top of everything! We understand this brings another set of emotional, physical and psychological challenges. That's why we created itchY. itchY is an online community just for teens to meet, share and find comfort from each other and discuss all things eczema.

👉 itchy.group/join

Will you or your little one be swimming this summer?

😎 Do’s and Don’ts this Summer with #eczema

Pools and chlorine can be safe to swim in – but not all pools are equal. The right amount of chlorine can help manage infections, but too much can irritate. Some public pools will have the maximum chlorine levels due to their high usage rate. Salt water pools are often more tolerated (and mineral or oxygen treated pools can be wonderful). Regardless of where you are swimming, always shower and moisturise well as soon as possible after swimming. Also, keep in mind that the more time in the water, the more the skin may become dry and irritated, so short swims are best.

How does chlorinated water impact your skin? Comment below 👇

Meet Mathilda. Mathilda is sharing her story to bring greater awareness and drive change for all eczema patients across Australia.

On 14th September, Eczema Support Australia launched a petition that we will take to the Australian government to get eczema on the health agenda.

Mathilda shared: "It has impacted every aspect of my life since I was 2 years old, including my education, social life, career, physical and mental health. I LITERALLY have never felt comfortable in my own skin."

Show your support for Mathilda and others like her, sign and share the petition.

👉 https://www.change.org/esa_saveourskin