I didn’t complete that—or many other—assignments. I was so distracted by a condition I’d been battling since I was 2 years old, my real-life villain: atopic dermatitis, which is the most common type of eczema.
The Constant Battle
When my skin becomes unbearably itchy, I scratch to relieve the pain. As a result, I’m left with a fascinating mosaic of rashes covering my body. Essentially there’s an internal battle going on inside my body.
Restless nights, bloody pus-filled sheets, and thick skin flakes covering my floor were par for the course. I became a test dummy for treatment options. Every prescribed lotion, cream, and ointment I tested never reached its full potential. I participated in clinical trials, special diets, and everything else short of holy water. While some treatments initially worked, nothing lasted, and my eczema came back with a vengeance.
When my test treatments did not work, I would wear long-sleeved sweaters and pants (even in the humid summer months). At camp, I endured the pain of chlorine, which felt like an acid bath anytime I went swimming. I sometimes avoided specific social scenes altogether.
I learned how to master the art of avoidance when need be because the only thing worse than eczema itself was the scathing stares I received.
Finding Solace in Words
Luckily, I found an outlet to help me navigate my condition. I found strength in words. I immersed myself in books, song lyrics, films, advertisements, comedians, and cartoon animation. Anything that involved letters forming into words caught my attention.
However, I had noticed an odd commonality. Many of the antagonists featured in entertainment were plagued with visible skin issues. I became extremely self-conscious. I felt people feared me because of my flawed skin. This led me to an undiagnosed skin dysmorphic disorder.
I overcame my skin dysmorphic disorder and turned my pain into my purpose, as I set out to become a writer.
I started my blog Itchin Since ’87 in 2015. At the time, there wasn’t a lot of buzz around eczema even though millions of people around the world suffer from this condition. The first person that reached out to me was a man in Australia who told me about his difficult bout with eczema.
Becoming an Advocate
What happened next was something short of a blessing. Opportunities arose, and I’d gotten to understand what it truly means to become an advocate. I attended health events, I cried along with my fellow warriors after hearing their heartbreaking stories about hospital visits, suicide attempts, broken marriages, suffering children, and so much more. I’ve interviewed a BAFTA award winner about his eczema, as well as a renowned soccer player turned chef and restaurant owner. They shared the difficulties of eczema and how it never held them back.
After a while, I knew this was my calling. Now, I fully embrace my life’s mission as an eczema patient advocate.
Currently, I have discovered the disparities many people of color face in healthcare treatment options. I have been working as an eczema consultant and advisor to help close this gap, but I know there is still work to be done.
Even though I received a D in 11th grade English, I’d like to think that the D stood for D E T E R M I N E D because that’s exactly what I am. And while I couldn’t recall what that specific assignment was about, I know that my story will live on. Because in my world, eczema is the defeated villain, and I am the superhero.
