“Disclosure: This is a sponsored post by Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as part of a paid program. All opinions are my own.”
Have you heard of atopic dermatitis? Whether the answer is yes or no, you may be surprised to learn the significant physical, emotional and psychological impact on people with the disease, myself included.
First off, what is this disease? Basically, it is a chronic form of eczema.1 Symptoms can include red rashes, intense itch, dryness, cracking, crusting and oozing of the skin, and they can occur on any part of the body.1 Some of the most common areas affected by atopic dermatitis include the knees, elbows, ankles, face, neck, feet, hands and wrists.2
Even though the symptoms of atopic dermatitis appear externally on the skin, they are fueled by a continuous cycle of underlying inflammation triggered by an overreaction of the immune system.2,3 The impact that this disease has on people who suffer from it (including me) can be difficult to manage. For me, it’s been devastating to my self-esteem and well-being at times.
While having atopic dermatitis can make me feel isolated, it’s comforting to know that I’m not alone and it is more common than I thought. An estimated 1.6 million adults in the United States are living with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. 4
