By Jennifer Ide, R.BIE, CNP
With Valentine’s Day approaching, it may be a good time to get a little personal and talk about dating when you have eczema. Having eczema can have huge impacts on people’s relationships and dating life. In fact, a study showed that the percent of patients with eczema who said that their skin condition affected their sexual behavior was more than 80% (Seneschal et al., 2017).
Below are some things to keep in mind if you have eczema and are in a relationship or starting one:
Be in Communication with Your Partner Early & Often
One of the biggest challenges is overcoming the self-consciousness of what the other person may think or feel once they know you have eczema. When you are having a flare up or anticipate that one is going to happen, it is easy to just run away and hide.
Telling the other person about your eczema at the beginning can be really freeing. You no longer have to drive yourself crazy thinking of ways to hide it, or think about how they may react. The truth is, you will never know with complete certainty how someone will react to something until you give them a chance to. Also, bringing up the subject at the beginning will enable you to quickly gauge whether or not the person is right for you
It is important to be in communication with your partner often, and let them know how you feel and what you need. This way, you enter into a partnership that is built on openness, vulnerability and trust. By sharing your concerns with your partner, it allows them to be there for you and support you in the most effective ways. Having the proper support is so important when you have eczema.
Allow Yourself to Be Loved
Know that not everyone is going to feel the way you do about your eczema. Remember that you are your worst critic. How you view yourself will most likely be different than what others see. While you may be focusing on your skin, others are focusing on what’s coming from your heart and mind, since these are what give you your essence. It is your “being-ness” that people are attracted to, not your skin! The degree and ways in which another person can love you is a reflection of how much you can love yourself.
This being said, it is important to practice self-love. For some, this may be easy. But for most of us, it can feel awkward at first, since the practice of self-love may be unfamiliar. Start from a place that feels authentic and comfortable. Taking 5 minutes at the end of each day to acknowledge yourself for three things that happened in your day can be a perfect way to get you connected to your greatness. You can acknowledge yourself for so many things like staying calm when dealing with a hostile customer, or taking the stairs up to your office rather than the elevator, or being courteous and opening the door for another person. The list goes on!
Focus on What is Working
When it comes to being in a relationship when you have eczema, there can be a lot of fears about your partner leaving. Know that your partner chose you and wants to be with you. There was something much greater than your eczema that led them to be with you. Realizing this can help build confidence and reassurance that your partner is in it for the long haul. Enjoy your partner and focus on nurturing the initial connection that brought you two together in the first place.
If you’re not in a relationship yet, a good place to put your focus would be on the things that bring you joy and happiness. This can include spending time with family members and close friends, listening to your favourite music, reading your favorite book, watching an inspirational video podcast etc. The goal is to feel good. According to the Law of Attraction, when you feel good, you start to manifest the things and people that you want in your life!
What’s next?
Eczema can be very challenging to live with. Often times, the journey can feel lonely. If you are looking for support and want to heal your eczema naturally, consider booking a meet and greet with me. Simply call the clinic at 416-214-9251. I would love to share with you my experience reversing my severe eczema symptoms using all natural approaches, as well as, the modalities that I practice to guide my clients towards healing their skin in the most effective, efficient and safest ways possible.
Reference
Seneschal, J. et al. 2017. Atopic Dermatitis In Adults: Impact on Sexuality. Journal of American Academy of Dermatology . 20, A808.
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