July 20, 2007
You are not Alone.
This is for those who have written to me and said ‘I’m happy to know that I’m not the only one’.
An excerp form ISOLATE – International Study Of Life With Atopic Eczema.
Inspiration for this photographic essay came from the International Study of Life with ATopic Eczema (ISOLATE), revealing the extent of the emotional suffering caused by eczema.
A large-scale study, ISOLATE assessed the impact of Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, on the lives of those living with it and how patients and caregivers manage the condition.
The global study was comprised of interviews with 2,002 patients from eight countries over the age of 13, and caregivers of children between the ages of 2-13, with moderate to severe eczema. The questions were developed by national patient associations and physicians from countries included in the study.
The study was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Novartis Pharma AG.
Study Results
On average, 55% of patients are either always or sometimes worried about the next eczema flare and 51% are either always or sometimes unhappy/depressed
On average, 86% of patients avoid at least one type of everyday activity during a flare-up
5% of caregivers and patients feel that being able to effectively control eczema would be the single most important improvement to their or their child’s quality of life
On average, 43% of patients are fairly or very concerned about being seen in public during an eczema flare
The most commonly affected part of the body in patients during eczema flares was the face and neck regardless of age, gender or severity
On average, patients take 2.5 days off school or work per year due to eczema and a further 9% of the time their concentration is affected at school or work while in flare
74% of patients and caregivers state that their physicians have never discussed the emotional impact that eczema has had on their lives
Diaries of an eczema sufferer 
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