Eczema and Mental Health

Have you ever been asked about your mental health when looking for medical support about your eczema? I know I haven’t. Mental health wasn’t really recognised as a big issue when I was a child, I hope that children now have more support. I’ve seen GPs so many times over the decades who have treated my physical symptoms but never been asked how I’m feeling.

The shocking statistics

There’s a huge connection between eczema and mental health. Studies have shown that adults with eczema have a significantly higher chance of having various mental health issues, especially OCD (50% higher) and anxiety and depression (14% higher). We are also more likely to have bipolar disorder and are at higher risk of suicide, depending on the severity of our eczema.

How does eczema affect our mental health? 

It can make us feel isolated and embarrassed, wanting to hide our skin beneath layers of clothes or stay at home when we have flares. 

It can greatly affect our self-esteem, which can stop us from dating, looking for new jobs and making friends. 

The physical side of eczema often limits our day-to-day activities, including those that can help mental health such as exercise. 

It can be hard to concentrate at school/college/university and work while our skin is itching or causing us pain. 

We may feel frustrated at the long waiting lists to get support and the side- effects of medication, especially if we are older and weren’t told about the effects of decades of steroid use. 

Other people can be cruel, adding to our own negative feelings about our skin and building on all-too-frequent childhood bullying, which often has effects on self-esteem into adulthood.

ADHD, autism and eczema

There are also strong links between eczema, autism and ADHD. This combination of conditions often adds extra problems, including sensory issues with creams, ointments and moisturisers and impulsivity making it harder not to scratch.

What can we do to help ourselves?

I really wish I had a magic wand to fix this, but sadly that doesn’t exist. However, stress is one of the biggest eczema triggers. If we can lower our stress levels, we may get less flare-ups and improve our wellbeing. 

Here are some ideas:

  • Look at what’s in your stress bucket and how to empty it.
  • Spend some time outside, ideally in nature – try and get some daylight every day if you can.
  • Plan relaxing activities into your day such as yoga, meditation or crafting.
  • Look at your basic physical needs – are you drinking enough water, eating a balanced diet and getting enough sleep? I know these can be really hard when you’re struggling, especially if you’re neurodivergent, so be kind to yourself and try making tiny changes.
  • Try grounding techniques to lessen distressing feelings, I have a free resource on this when you sign up to my newsletter.
  • Talk to people about what you’re going through – a trusted friend or family member, an online or in-person eczema group or a mental health professional.

I hope this has been helpful for you. Get in touch if you’re interested in getting support from me about your eczema.

Are you a counsellor or therapist who is interested in knowing more about working with eczema? I have an introductory guide e-book available here! You can get 10% discount in August by signing up to my therapist mailing list, which will also have updates on my upcoming course about working with eczema.