Ashley Ann Lora didn’t always feel comfortable in her skin. Now 32, Lora was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe eczema when she was just 2 years old. The Raleigh, North Carolina resident attempted to treat the eczema symptoms with topical steroids for 22 years, but they eventually stopped working for her.
In 2014, she decided to take charge of her eczema by learning more about the condition. She eventually enrolled in a clinical trial for a biologic, which significantly improved her symptoms. After 2 years of treatment, she now manages her eczema using moisturizers.
Lora is now an advocate for herself and others with eczema. Here are her top tips to build confidence, talk openly and effectively with a healthcare professional about your eczema concerns, and tap into the eczema community.
This interview has been edited for brevity, length, and clarity.
Growing up, I never understood why my skin looked different than everybody else’s and why I was so uncomfortable in it. I didn’t see my peers scratching in the middle of classes like I was. I didn’t see them red or heading to the nurse’s office every week like I was because I was flaring up. So I just didn’t understand why.
At that time, I would really question why God had given me this condition — because I didn’t see anybody else going through anything similar.
Like other people with severe eczema, I went through a lot of isolation, misunderstanding, insecurities, and doubt, because no one had ever told me the connection between eczema and my mental health. I didn’t know why I was anxious sometimes, and I didn’t know why I would isolate myself from my peers.
And then later on, as soon as I started healing, I realized that had occurred because my eczema was leading me down that route.
Because I couldn’t focus also on anything else, I was in survival mode for 22 years, trying not to flare up. And even when I did, I was just trying to get through that flare. There was no real in-between.
I would literally wake up and check my skin first before I chose what I could wear that day and what I could do. I would have to cancel plans with friends, miss school, and miss dance sessions when I flared up. Eczema really had control over my life, and that’s just not how people should be living.
It’s so important to find a dermatologist who can see the patient holistically so that the patient can label what they’re going through. I think being able to verbalize and use language to say, “Wow, I’m going through this because of my eczema, and now that I can label it, and now there are solutions,” is crucial.
There are options that healthcare professionals can lean into to support individuals with eczema.
Definitely do your research before you go see your healthcare professional. Look online, but at information that’s medically approved. There’s tons of misinformation online, so be aware of the difference between that and accurate information. The National Eczema Association is a great resource.
Also, write out any questions or concerns that you have before your doctor’s appointment so that you can go in there feeling prepared and be able to check off all the boxes of things you wanted to talk about.
Ahead of time, think about yourself and your lifestyle, so that you can talk about that. See how your healthcare professional can co-create a plan with you that fits your lifestyle. And that is different for everybody. For instance, I am always on the go and traveling, so it’s very important for me to have a routine that I can take with me wherever I go.
Be open and vulnerable with the healthcare professional to share how eczema is impacting you mentally and psychologically so that they can provide you with whatever resources they have at hand.
Lean into community. We want to support other people also going through eczema because we understand. In addition to the National Eczema Association, on Instagram — on which I’m active — there are so many of us who are open to sharing our experiences.
When I stopped taking a topical steroid after 22 years, I went through withdrawal, which is intense. I found a wonderful resource called itsan.org for people with severe eczema going through topical steroid withdrawal.
Living with eczema is a journey of learning what works and doesn’t work for your skin and body.
My biggest advice is to build your own “resource bag” for your eczema. Literally write down steps you can take to calm yourself down during a flare-up so that when it happens, you’re prepared and fully equipped to manage it.
For example, Step 1 for me is to breathe. This helps me be present in my body so I don’t become anxious and begin the itch cycle. Step 2 is to place my inflamed hands under cold water for 20 seconds. Step 3 is to moisturize.
Confidence is built through practice. Practice strategically managing your eczema flare-ups, and the confidence will eventually come. You’ll feel a sense of control when it comes to managing your eczema. Review these steps with your dermatologist to co-create a resource bag that works best for you.
Ashley Ann Lora, 32, was diagnosed with moderate-to-severe eczema when she was 2 years old. In 2016, Ashley started posting about her eczema journey at @ashleyannlora on Instagram, building and leading a supportive community for others with the condition. She is now an eczema patient advocate and community engagement manager for MyHealthTeam, supporting people living with chronic conditions, including eczema.