ANDREW’S STORY

Clinical Trial: Eczema

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a common skin condition characterised by red, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin. It is most common in babies and young children but also affects teens and adults.

In Australia, 1 in 3 children ⁽¹⁾ and over 1 million Australians have eczema. A study by the Eczema Association of Australia ⁽²⁾ showed that half of the current sufferers describe their eczema condition as chronic, with only 6% claiming their condition is controllable. Eczema can significantly impact a person’s quality of life including their confidence, mental health, sleep, and personal relationships. Research suggests that people with eczema are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

At The Skin Hospital, we are committed to advancing treatments and cures for skin diseases. Clinical Trials form a vital part of this process and are essential for the development of innovative and life-changing medicine. In 2020, Andrew, an eczema sufferer for most of his life participated in one of our clinical trials and shares his story below.

Andrew

Hi, my name is Andrew.  I’m from Sydney and I work as an engineer at Sydney Metro. I love music, dancing, and cooking.

I have had severe eczema and food allergies for as long as I can remember. Every day was a struggle even while I was using steroid creams. My skin would be dry and itchy, and I was constantly covered in a red rash.

When I was a baby, I remember having steroid creams applied to my skin to try and suppress the allergic reactions my body was having. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of steroid cream reduces with usage so as time went on more and more steroid cream was required to achieve any sort of result. Unfortunately, I continued to develop allergies and as a result my skin was never clear.

It was while I was researching treatment options for eczema that I came across The Skin Hospital Clinical Trials unit who were trialling a new medication for severe eczema. I decided I would like to be involved.

For me, participating in the clinical trial had its ups and downs. Fortunately, the staff at The Skin Hospital were good at helping me through these down moments. They were very friendly, providing options when needed and answering all my questions. I found the process was very straight forward and everything was explained clearly.

As a result of participating my skin has improved dramatically. I am no longer on steroids and my severe eczema and allergies are gone. The combination of medication and lifestyle changes have had a major impact on the skin.

If you are considering a clinical trial, I would definitely recommend it. Make sure you do some research yourself before participating so you are clear about what you are getting involved in.