“The reality of the skin”, a campaign on Atopic Dermatitis

In the framework of the World Day of Atopic Dermatitis (AD) – which is commemorated every September 14 – the artists Ani Santangelo, Fio Silva and Julia Alonso, intervened different murals of the City of Buenos Aires to help generate awareness about this chronic skin disease, characterized by reddish-looking lesions that generate itching. This initiative aims to highlight the ways in which Atopic Dermatitis can affect both young children and adults and, in turn, the impact that this can have on an emotional level, since it is estimated that AD affects the quality of life of 86% of people who suffer from it in Argentina. It is for this reason, that it is a condition that requires daily attention to keep itching and skin lesions under control, which can often generate stress and frustration, especially when it comes to pictures that generate difficulties sleeping or performing daily activities. The works are embodied in Palermo: Juan B. Justo and Jufré; Saavedra: Donated 3574; and Chacarita: Av. Lacroze 4100, corner Av. Triunvirato, and will be available to anyone who wishes to visit them. “We are convinced that everything concerning the spread of pathology is welcome and, even more, when this action is carried out through art, managing to make visible the invisible, which are precisely the patients and their needs,” says Mónica Ladner, member of ADAR (Association of Atopic Dermatitis Argentina).” The impact that skin diseases, including AD, have on the daily lives of people who suffer from it is absolutely underestimated by health systems around the world. We talk about inclusion permanently and people who have affected their skin are excluded due to lack of knowledge. Stigma can be prevented with the right diagnoses and treatments, which is why it is important to give visibility to this issue,” says Silvia Fernandez Barrio, Founder and President of AEPSO (Civil Association for the Psoriasis Patient), an organization that also provides support to patients with AD. 

In Argentina, knowledge about AD is low and the geographical concentration of specialists treating it creates obstacles to the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The lack of information and knowledge becomes a major problem if we take into account that it is estimated that LD is the most common chronic condition in childhood, and can affect between 10% and 30% of children.” Those with moderate or severe disease can have a major impact on their quality of life, with constant itching, sleep disturbances, skin infections, among other complications. That is why it is so important that, as health professionals, we can diagnose the disease early and provide it with the appropriate treatment,” says Dr. Paula Luna, a specialist in Dermatology and Children’s Dermatology at the German Hospital (M.N.110753). The initiative takes place within the framework of the World Day of Atopic Dermatitis and is part of the campaign “The reality of the skin”, a project that seeks to publicize the characteristics and impact of AD, as well as provide tools to address it and accompany those who need it. It consists of a website with informative resources that seek to make visible the reality of children, adolescents and adults living with this disease. 

The conversation about AD is important to debunk myths or preconceptions about skin conditions in society, as well as to help create and promote instances of exchange and knowledge among opinion leaders, dermatologists and general practitioners, for the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of pathology.  “There are many aspects of the life of a patient or their family nucleus that are affected by AD and that is why we consider that the more atopic dermatitis is known and visible, both in the general public and in the medical community or even in health decision makers, better will be the perspectives and actions aimed at helping these people,” adds Monica Ladner. “These actions are extremely necessary so that more and more people know what this condition is about and thus create awareness to achieve the correct diagnosis and treatment, providing care and ‘relief’ to those patients who today suffer from the disease,” concludes Silvia Fernandez Barrio.

Original source in Spanish