Frankfurt/Main (ots) – What do a stress ball, pollen and a feel-good song have to do with the skin disease neurodermatitis? This can be seen from August 20th on the Instagram channel leben_mit_neurodermitis.info. On the occasion of International Neurodermatitis Day on September 14, 2023, there are three exciting challenges for the community on the Instagram channel that draw attention to the chronic disease.
Those affected are asked to name their best distraction strategies for itching, their individual trigger factors and their personal encouragement songs. The challenges are presented by the two prospective medical specialists Avend from the Instagram channel @der.hautarzt2b and David alias @the.family doctor1 accompanied. As experts, they know the challenges that those affected have to face every day and would like to encourage them to actively counteract their neurodermatitis. Partner of the action is the Network Autoimmunerkranker NIK eV, a patient initiative that aims to support those affected and their relatives holistically and across all diseases.
A cycle of itching and scratching
“Atopic dermatitis restricts us in our everyday life and gets on our last nerve when it doesn’t let us sleep at night. It itch us at work, when cuddling with our partner, in the shower and when we want to concentrate,” says blogger and Anja, affected by neurodermatitis. She has suffered from the chronic inflammatory skin disease since childhood. Depending on the degree of severity, those affected are often severely impaired both in their professional and private lives. Inflamed, painful skin and tormenting itching – these are the everyday stresses of many people with neurodermatitis. [1,2] Especially in the case of an acute flare-up, those affected are often caught in a cycle of itching and scratching. “Individual strategies can help to distract from scratching and focus on other things – although this is not always easy. A stress ball, a cold pack or mindfulness exercises, for example, can distract attention,” explains Avend.
Finding the triggers
Trigger factors are individual and can lead to the onset or worsening of the disease. Common triggers are, for example, pollen, certain foods or psychological factors such as stress. [3] In addition to individual itching strategies and the avoidance of trigger factors, it is important to find a long-term and suitable therapy. When it comes to neurodermatitis, dermatologists are the best people to talk to. They can make a diagnosis and explain the various treatment options – David agrees. “For many people, the family doctor is still the first point of contact for neurodermatitis. Close cooperation with a dermatologist is particularly important for moderate and severe forms.”
Don’t lose heart
There are many challenges with neurodermatitis. Nevertheless, it is important for those affected not to lose heart, but to actively confront them. The better people with neurodermatitis know their condition, the more likely it is that they can get the symptoms under control. Thanks to research, there are now modern therapy options that enable long-term symptom control. It can help those affected to find out about the treatment options and to actively talk to the dermatologist about them.
Blogger Anja has also managed to find a positive way of dealing with the disease: “I owe it to neurodermatitis that I am much more self-confident today than I was four years ago. It helps enormously to see the disease as a challenge – if we master, we come out of it stronger than ever!”
If you want to take a look at the challenges, you can do so now. On the Instagram channel living_with_neurodermitis.info there is already the first information about the challenges around the topics of itching, triggers and courage. The promotion runs until September 14th. Finally, Avend and David will be on the Instagram channel on International Neurodermatitis Day living_with_neurodermitis.info go live, review the challenges and answer exciting questions from the community. The website also offers further information on the subject of neurodermatitis for those affected and those interested living-with-neurodermitis.info.
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credentials
[1] Werfel T et al., S2k AWMF guideline neurodermatitis. 2015:013-027 with amendment to system therapy 2020:013-027.
[2] Weidinger S, Novak N. Atopic dermatitis. lancet 2016;387(10023):1109-1122.
[3] http://ots.de/78EGPi (last accessed on 07/06/2023)
MAT-DE-2303136-1.0-07/2023
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