More Options, Less Stigma for People With Eczema

The Educated Patient recently spoke with Adam Friedman, M.D., professor and chair of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, as part of the first installment in a three-part video series supporting the Free to Be Me campaign. The campaign, which also features actress and author Tori Spelling and her daughter Stella McDermott, aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma around atopic dermatitis (eczema), a chronic inflammatory skin condition that affects more than 26 million people in the United States alone.

According to Friedman, one of the most harmful and persistent misconceptions about eczema is the belief that it is contagious. When people see flaky, red or inflamed patches of skin — especially on visible areas — they may instinctively pull away. This reaction can deepen the emotional and social toll already experienced by individuals living with the condition. Many patients, he explained, begin to isolate themselves, missing out on school, work and social activities because of embarrassment or fear of judgment. Over time, this self-imposed withdrawal can spiral into worsening mental and physical health, as stress is known to exacerbate inflammatory skin conditions.

Atopic dermatitis does not look the same in every person. It can vary widely based on age, skin tone and where it appears on the body. There is no single test that definitively diagnoses the condition. Instead, diagnosis is made clinically, through careful observation and a detailed discussion of a patient’s history and symptoms. That is why Friedman encourages patients to come to appointments prepared to share the nuances of their experience, including when symptoms began, what makes them worse and how the condition affects daily life.

The good news, he says, is that treatment options have expanded dramatically over the last decade. In the past, topical steroids were often the only consistent line of defense, and patients with moderate to severe disease were frequently prescribed off-label medications with limited evidence and uncertain safety profiles. Today, advances in both topical and systemic therapies mean clinicians have a wider, more precise range of choices. This allows them to tailor treatment plans to each patient’s unique needs, reducing the trial-and-error cycle that can leave families frustrated and discouraged.

Friedman hopes the Free to Be Me campaign will spark honest conversation, promote curiosity over judgment and encourage those living with atopic dermatitis to seek care rather than suffer in silence. With better awareness and more effective, U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved options, there has never been a more hopeful time for patients.