Psychodermatology & Me: New Survey Reveals the Emotional Toll of Skin Conditions
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The Psychodermatology & Me Survey, released today at the British Association of Dermatologists' 106th Annual Conference in Manchester, gathered responses from over 1,100 people living with a skin condition across the UK. Eczema UK was one of many charities, that helped promote the survey to our communities.
We were pleased to support this important survey from the British Skin Foundation, and we're grateful to everyone in the eczema community who took part and shared their experiences. The findings confirm what we've long known: living with a skin condition affects far more than the skin itself.
What the survey found
🧡 81% feel more anxious or depressed during flare-ups
🧡 64% say their skin affects their mental health every day
🧡 73% have never had the mental health impact of their condition discussed by a healthcare professional
🧡 1 in 5 have experienced bullying because of their skin condition
The survey also found that more than half of respondents said their condition affects their personal or romantic relationships, and nearly a third spend more than two hours a day worrying about their skin. Interestingly, social media played a mixed role: many respondents said it helps them connect with others and find support, while some said it negatively affects their confidence.
Why this matters for our community
These findings affirm what we've known for a long time. Eczema is not just dry skin. It affects confidence, relationships and mental wellbeing, and it's vital this side of eczema is recognised and taken seriously.
The survey's findings point to a clear gap: despite the emotional toll being so widespread, most people say the mental health impact of their condition has never come up in conversations with their healthcare professional. This reinforces the need for psychological support to be built into skin condition care, not treated as an afterthought.
Thank you
Thank you to everyone in our community who took part in this survey and shared their experiences. Your input helps build the evidence base needed to push for better, more holistic support for people living with eczema that recognises the emotional impact of the condition, not just the physical symptoms.
We're really grateful to the British Skin Foundation for leading this important piece of research, and to the many charities who worked together to make it happen.
You can view the full report here.
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