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The stigma of living with atopic dermatitis

Recognizing stigma and how it can impact people living with atopic dermatitis, and strategies for addressing stigma.

A young woman struggling with low self-esteem and stigma is comforted by her dog. Many people who live with skin conditions avoid social situations and relationships as a result of the condition.

Updated on November 9, 2023

Known as “the itch that rashes,” atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that affects millions. It is characterized by a cycle of uncomfortable symptoms that include dry skin, severe itching, and rash. It can also cause more severe skin symptoms and complications—broken skin, fluid-filled blisters, thickened patches of skin, and a risk of infection as bacteria enter broken skin.

For people living with atopic dermatitis, the impact of the condition extends far beyond these uncomfortable and visible symptoms.

Atopic dermatitis and stigma

Stigma refers to negative attitudes and beliefs directed at a person or a group of people because of a certain characteristic or quality about that person or group. It can also be described as prejudice and discrimination. People can experience stigma for many different reasons, including health conditions.

People with atopic dermatitis may experience stigma because of the visible rash caused by the condition. Atopic dermatitis is not contagious, but someone who does not recognize the condition may not understand that it is not contagious. This can cause a person with atopic dermatitis to be treated differently—they may be avoided in public, left out of social gatherings, or face bullying and discrimination at school and work.

There is also self-stigma. This occurs when a person who experiences stigma (or anticipates stigma from others) may internalize negative feelings about themselves. They may avoid social situations and relationships to avoid judgment from others or the discomfort of having to talk about their condition. This can contribute to feelings of low-self-worth and low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, and an overall lower quality of life.

Quality of life and skin conditions

Quality of life refers to a person’s overall wellbeing and how well they are able to function in their day-to-day life—in their job, in their relationships, in their ability to enjoy who they are and what they do. Quality of life is often an important metric when determining the severity and impact of skin conditions.

Coping with stigma

Mental and emotional health should be an important focus when living with and managing atopic dermatitis. Addressing stigma is an important aspect of mental and emotional health. Here are some strategies that may help:

  • Learn as much as you can about atopic dermatitis, its causes, and its management. This can help you prepare to talk about the condition with others. Accurate knowledge helps dispel misconceptions and reduce stigma.
  • Discuss atopic dermatitis with the important people in your life. Support and understanding from friends, family, and coworkers can be very valuable when living with a health condition.
  • Consider participating in a support group, where you can connect with other people who have atopic dermatitis. Support groups offer an opportunity to spend time with people who understand what the experience of atopic dermatitis is like.
  • Consider working with a provider that specializes in mental health. This can be an opportunity to work on building self-esteem and developing strategies for coping with the challenges of atopic dermatitis.
  • Try strategies for reducing and managing stress, such as meditation, yoga, or deep breathing exercises. At the very least, make sure you are setting aside time for the things that you enjoy. Stress can affect both mental health and trigger atopic dermatitis symptoms.

Stigma is also a topic you can discuss with your healthcare provider, who may have other recommendations that can help you navigate life with atopic dermatitis. Also, advocate for yourself. Tell your healthcare provider if atopic dermatitis is having a significant impact on your quality of life. Atopic dermatitis is a different experience for everyone, and you are your healthcare provider’s best source of information when it comes to what you need from a treatment plan.

Article sources open article sources

National Eczema Association. Atopic Dermatitis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Atopic Dermatitis.
Mount Sinai. Atopic dermatitis.
APA Dictionary of Psychology. Stigma.
C. Luck-Sikorski, P. Rossmann, et al. Assessment of stigma related to visible skin diseases: a systematic review and evaluation of patient-reported outcome measures. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022. Vol. 36, No. 4.
Luisa Polo Silveira, Marlous L. Grijsen, Ivonise Follador, and Gerson Dellatorre. How persistent stigma and discrimination keep people with visible skin diseases out of jobs: vitiligo in Brazil today. The Lancet, 2023. Vol. 23.
Gabrielle Capaldo. World Mental Health Day: Hidden burdens of skin disease include stigmatization. Healio Psoriatic Disease. October 10, 2023.
National Eczema Association. What is Eczema?
Luca Stingeni, Anna Belloni Fortina, et al. Atopic Dermatitis and Patient Perspectives: Insights of Bullying at School and Career Discrimination at Work. Journal of Asthma and Allergy, 2021. Vol. 14.
Wendy Smith Begolka and Jodi L. Johnson. Mental Health and Eczema – Seeing the Unseen. National Eczema Association. Jan 3, 2023.
Sophie Schlachter, Rachel Sommer, et al. A Comparative Analysis of the Predictors, Extent and Impacts of Self-stigma in Patients with Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 2023. Vol. 103.
Beata Kowalewska, Barbara Jankowiak, et al. Quality of life in skin diseases as perceived by patients and nurses. Advances in Dermatology and Allergology, 2020. Vol. 37, No. 6.
Jennifer LeBovidge. Helping Your Child Cope With Eczema. National Eczema Association. October 23, 2020.
National Eczema Association. Eczema and Emotional Wellness.
Rishab R. Revankar, Nikita R. Revankar, et al. Cognitive behavior therapy as dermatological treatment: a narrative review. International Journal of Women's Dermatology, 2022. Vol. 8, No. 4.
American Academy of Dermatology Association. Stress: Is It a Common Eczema Trigger?
Louise Lonndahl, Saly Abdelhadi, et al. Psychological Stress and Atopic Dermatitis: A Focus Group Study. Annals of Dermatology, 2023. Vol. 35, No. 5.

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