In the early 2000s, a fresh-faced Joe Rogan entered the entertainment world as host of the new reality hit show Fear Factor. I vividly remember how I squirmed in my seat as they placed contestants in a box with 15,000 cockroaches and other creepy crawleys as part of an escape scene. Contestants screamed and cried as they hastily found their way to free themselves. This is the best way I can explain our eczema journey to an outsider.

With one exception, my son is not a willing participant.

His skin burns, scales, oozes, itches, and bleeds. Treatment often consists of quick fixes which do not result in long term solutions, it is an endless cycle.

As a caregiver I have grappled with dealing with schools who are ill-informed and less inclined to bring about any concessions for eczema sufferers. We are the odd moms, who hang around next to the sports field(grass and sweat is our enemy), uninterested in the actual game. We are the ones who anxiously hand a box of medications to the grade 4 teachers when the kids go on their first school camps and we are the moms who gets the phone call from panicked teachers at night when the skin sends out its SOS in living colour.

The role of a caregiver is every changing. Ten years on, struggling with giving the reigns of care over to my young adult son and stepping back to give him an opportunity to fully take charge of managing his condition. This is where I need your help. Join us to form a community so we can support each other and advocate for change in the recognition, treatment, and management of eczema.