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Whats not quite as obvious, or talked about enough, is the emotional side of things.
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Having visible rashes can, understandably, take a toll on a persons self-esteem.
Whether or not other people are actually staring at your skin, it sure feels like it sometimes.
She became hyper-aware of it, especially when flares appeared on her face and neck.
1. venture to shift your perspective.
Even so, Harris acknowledges that getting more confident in her own skin has taken real work.
Harris has also embraced showing her skin, flare-ups and all.
But know that there can be tremendous freedom in unhiding your eczema.
When we show our skin, we can transcend shame and embrace who we really are.
Be honest about your struggles, with loved ones and yourself.
Shes also learned to be honest with people about whats happening with her skin.
It sounds simple, but this honesty has helped me to feel more comfortable in my own skin.
Dont be afraid to tell close family and friends what youre going through, she says.
They may not entirely understand, but they can be a great source of comfort and support.
Find a community that gets it.
The whole experience is incredibly isolating.
One thing that has helped her is finding other people who understand her experience firsthand.
This gives me the confidence to get back out there.
Face your worries head-on.
I felt so ugly that I wanted to spare people my face.
And each time it didnt, her insecurities faded a little bit more.
As it often is, I was my own worst critic, Ashbridge says.
People still booked meetings with me with or without makeup.
I built my business when my eczema was at its worst.
The negative thoughts were all coming from within.
Focus on what your bodycando.
Also, if patients see them they sometimesthink its something contagious, or will ask what it is.
The thought of making a patient feel uncomfortable or concerned about her cleanliness does a number on Espejos self-esteem.
Be patient with yourself.
She learned to manage her anxiety around flares by reminding herself that they would always pass.
That mental approach helped me to maintain my overall confidence even amidst a flare-up, she tells SELF.
Flares are not who I am….
Managing it and just giving it time and patience honestly helped a lot.
I had to really internalize that and realize its true.
Lean into positive self-talk.
Haidara covered her body breakouts with clothes, but the eczema on her face was harder to hide.
I had so much hyperpigmentation.
Back then there werent even shades of foundation dark enough for my skin tone.
I hated people looking at me and just knew they were thinking, What’s wrong with her face?
Each day of the week has a different affirmation, such as I accept myself unconditionally.
