Eczema UK at the British Association of Dermatologists Annual Conference - 2026
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Last week, the Eczema UK team attended the UK's top dermatology conference in Manchester. Over the three-day event, we promoted the exciting research Eczema UK is funding and supporting, spoke to expert dermatologists and healthcare professionals, and built new relationships with other charities and organisations who share our goal of improving eczema care.
As well as running a stand throughout the three-day conference, where we spoke directly with patients, researchers and other charities about our work, we also took to the stage. Our Chief Executive, Andrew Proctor, gave two well-attended talks, sharing insights on trust in eczema care and the ongoing debate around Topical Steroid Withdrawal -both topics at the heart of what matters most to our community.
Trust in Eczema Care
A couple of months ago, you may remember we asked you to fill out a survey on how much you trust your doctor or healthcare professional (HCP), and the impact social media has on this. The results were striking, and we presented them to a room of leading dermatologists in eczema care, to work towards better treatments and communication at your future appointments.
We found that:
Three-quarters of HCPs said their patients want to talk about things they've seen on social media about eczema during consultations.
15% of patients said social media has made them less trusting of their HCP.
85% of HCPs believe patients trust them completely or a lot. Only a third of patients said the same.
Almost 1 in 5 patients said they don't trust their eczema treatments.
Three-quarters of patients said they use their treatment as advised. HCPs estimated that 6 in 10 patients delay or avoid prescribed treatment.
The most important factors in building trust were being listened to and believed, being involved in treatment decisions, being treated with respect and empathy, feeling confident in your treatment, and being supported over time. Conversely, feeling dismissed or judged, poor treatment experiences, things not being properly explained, and conflicting advice eroded trust, and can lead to patients doubting the advice of their HCP.
This talk was an important step in making sure the patient voice is heard at the highest levels of dermatology - and thank you to everyone who took part in the survey. These findings are now shaping conversations we're having directly with dermatologists at events like BAD. It's exactly why taking part in surveys, like the PSP research survey highlighted earlier in this newsletter, makes such a considerable difference.
Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW)
We also hosted a talk on Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW). Andrew, alongside trustee of the charity Prof Celia Moss and Dr Rowena Mills, spoke on the nature and implications of topical steroid withdrawal and the current perceptions around it. Dr Rowena Mills gave her personal insights and the panel took questions from the audience.
In Their Own Words
Dr Charlene Murphy, Research Engagement Lead who attended the conference, said:
"It was wonderful to reconnect with colleagues from across the dermatology community and promote the exciting research Eczema UK supports through our funding, PPIE work and recruitment activities. Conferences like this strengthen partnerships, encourage collaboration, and help keep the patient voice at the heart of eczema research. It was also great to catch up with other patient support organisations, hear about the important work they are doing, and explore opportunities to support one another."
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