National Eczema Association - Living With Eczema - Eczema from a Child's Point of View

Eczema from a Child's Point of View

How do you see eczema?

a skin disease *
A rash that never can be treated and sometimes sore.
a skin disease with food allergies
unbearable
painful
an everyday problem
red with your eyes
like chicken pox
itchy, dry skin *
red spots *
a rash *
evil
special

What color would you give eczema?

red *
pink *
pinkish reddish
blue
orange
pink or brown
tan, skin color
green with pink polka dots.

How does eczema make you feel?

mad
itchy *
sad *
upset *
different *
frustrated
self conscious
uncomfortable
It makes me feel like I have a very bad rash.
I don't really care.
not sad, not happy
Strong. I see my sister everyday and see how strong she is, it makes me stronger too.

How do people who you meet on the street see you?

They just see my rash.
They think it is poison ivy. *
chicken pox *
stare
odd
no way
different
normal *
diseased
fine and ok
They see red.
contagious, gross
They see me coming.
Some people don't even know I have it.

How do you think your parents see eczema?

a rash
itchy
lotions
same as me
dry, itchy skin
a skin disease
terrible burden
He has red stuff.
red "ichey" spots *
breaks out and gets red
They have to deal with it.
For mine, it's a very bad itchy rash.
A rash that is severe, leaving blood opened wounds that won't heal until treated.
Something that needs to be cured.
a horrible and unbeatable disease *
A terrible skin problem people get.
Stop scratching, it will make it worse.*
A really bad skin disease that has affected our lives.
They would use scientific phrases.

How about your teachers, how do they see eczema?

They see red.
They think it is bad.
They see a rash. *
dry skin
red spots
They think it is poison ivy.
They feel sorry for me.
chicken pox
a skin disease
uncomfortable
My mom tells them.
Teachers say "no scratch".
They just think it's an itchy rash.
They feel bad, tell you not to scratch.
I don't think they know I have it. *

...and your friends?

They think it is "Pozin ivey". *
They see red spots.
a rash *
They say to eat wheat.
a skin disease
I don't know. *
They feel bad for you.
not normal, odd
like chicken pox *
a common problem
a skin disease
looking for kids itching
Too bad you have eczema.
They don't know about it or think it's just a rash.

What are some of the problems kids face having eczema?

itching *
scratching
sleeping a lot
boo boos
breaking out
itchiness and pain
trying to stop scratching
itches tiu ll it bleeds, get scabs
getting up a lot at night and itching
feeling left out
My brother's friends desert him sometimes.

Who do you feel the most comfortable talking to about eczema?

Mom *
my family *
parents *
brother *
sister
friends *
specialists
no one

What helps you deal with eczema?

medicine *
lotion *
cream *
wrapped hands
something cold
a warm shower and a ton of cream
a book
comics
relaxing
playing with my friends
activities like video games
people not noticing it right away
my parents
Nothing really, I guess just knowing it will go away soon.

* said by lots of kids . . . .

A thoughtful brochure created by children for children.

All the pictures and words in this brochure were collected at a NEA conference where children could express themselves through artwork and answer important questions about how it feels to be affected by eczema.