alyssa hansen of miramichi n.b. first noticed small, itchy patches of dry, red skin on her inner elbows in 2005. gradually, the patches spread over her entire body — to the point that her father, a police officer, said she looked like a burn victim.
atopic dermatitis (ad) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. symptoms can include flaky, dry, itchy and red skin. individuals with moderate to severe ad can experience lesions that ooze and bleed during flare-ups. after receiving her diagnosis at age 12, everyday tasks, like using scented soap or applying makeup, became impossible for alyssa –– it was just too painful. “i’d just cry from the pain when i showered,” recalls alyssa, who has lived with ad for most of her life. “it made me extremely depressed.”
“it’s not uncommon for patients with atopic dermatitis to experience depression and anxiety,” says dr. vimal h. prajapati, clinical associate professor at the university of calgary as well as co-founder and co-director of the skin health & wellness centre and dermatology research institute in calgary, alta. “the condition significantly impacts quality of life. some people feel like they must shut themselves away.”
alyssa isolated herself out of embarrassment and frustration over her skin. “the constant discomfort made me really irritable and hard to be around, even for my friends and family,” alyssa recalls. at her worst, she was unable to sleep and too exhausted to interact with her loved ones. this kind of withdrawal is common among patients with ad, who often miss out on social activities, such as dating, and important life events.