Having a flare-up of eczema comes with itching, pain, and discomfort. It also comes with the inevitable conversations about eczema and how it affects your life. The people closest to you probably already know your eczema story, but other people may have questions about your skin condition.
There is a time and a place for earnest conversations about what it's like living with eczema. There is also a time and a place to have a little fun with the topic. Here are a few ways to add some much-needed laughs to flare-ups.
An FAQ Sheet. You have probably heard every question under the sun about eczema. If you want to be cheeky about explaining something you've explained before, you could make a hand-out. When someone starts with the predictable questions, you can say, "I know where this is going. Here." Then you can hand them a printed sheet explaining the details of your experience with eczema.
Memes and Graphics. If you have a support group of other people with eczema, you are probably used to joking about your situations. It's easy to laugh when you're talking to other people who totally get it. Starting a group text where you can post funny eczema memes and images that describe life with eczema might be just the thing to give everyone an appreciative giggle.
Wild Descriptions. When people ask you what eczema feels like, you might usually use familiar phrases like "It itches" or "It's a burning sensation." If you want to amuse yourself and others, though, you can kick your descriptions up a notch and make them as outrageous as possible. You might say, "It feels like a small dragon blew a direct flame at a mosquito bite, then told me not to scratch it." Or you could explain, "Trying to sleep during an eczema flare-up is like camping out in a tent full of fire ants."
However you talk about your eczema symptoms, don't feel obligated to share information if it makes you uncomfortable. You don't owe anyone an explanation, so it's valid to tell people that you don't want to talk about your skin. Your health is a personal matter, and you can discuss it how and when you want to.
