Eczema Support Group
Eczema is a form of inflammation of the upper layers of the skin. The main symptoms are skin rashes characterized by redness, skin edema, itching and dryness, with possible crusting, flaking, blistering, cracking, oozing or bleeding. Eczema can be extremely physically and socially uncomfortable. If you're an eczema sufferer, join the group and get support.
So today, another person asked me why I always look so sad. I don't have enough fingers to count for how many times people have asked me that. I didn't even know I look sad? I know why I'm sad but I don't look that way on purpose. It's almost like it comes naturally to me.
Is the sadness you refer to due to having eczema? Although I always wondered what it would have been like to have grown up without eczema, I don't ever wish to repeat my teen years. It seems to be a difficult time for everyone for all kinds of reasons. Although I always thought that I had a better reason than anyone for having a miserable experience as a teenager but most people appear to feel that way. No matter the age, people seem willing to accept any emotion except sadness, even extreme anger can be justifiable but sorrow is treated as a disease as though it may be contagious? You could practice a different persona for public appearances, make a conscientious effort to look cheerier, perhaps even a different way of applying makeup. When my eczema is bad, I try to clean up & cover up the best I can to avoid some of the inevitable comments. What's annoying for me is that the comments are usually from someone I know at work who knows my situation but is basically inept at the art of conversation or tact. Fortunately I know people I'll meet through out my day who I can be "real" with including some people on this site.