About NEA

The National Eczema Association (NEA) exists for one reason: to improve life for everyone living with eczema and everyone who cares for them.

Our vision

A world where every person affected by eczema is understood, supported and empowered.

Our mission

To improve the health and quality of life for people affected by eczema, and empower those who advocate, support and deliver care.

Our community

We’re patients who’ve tried everything. Parents navigating flare-ups at 2 a.m. Dermatologists pushing for better treatments. Researchers asking bigger questions. Skincare brands creating eczema-friendly products. Corporate partners committed to real change. We’re 31+ million people living with eczema, plus the caregivers, healthcare providers and advocates who show up for them every day.

Every voice matters. Every experience counts. You set the direction. We clear the path.

Meet our staff

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Connect you to what actually helps.

We fund research that leads somewhere. We create resources you can use today — not someday. We review products. We vet information. We answer the questions you’re Googling at midnight. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing eczema for decades, we’re here with the tools that help.

Fight for the changes that matter.

We push lawmakers for better insurance coverage. We advocate for research funding. We challenge outdated policies. We work with pharmaceutical companies, regulatory agencies and healthcare systems to make sure your needs aren’t an afterthought — they’re the starting point.

Create spaces where you’re not alone.

We connect the parent in Hawaii to the parent in Boston who’s been there. We bring dermatologists and patients into the same room. We #UnhideEczema and challenge every outdated narrative. We create community that shows up — online, in person and everywhere in between.

Meet our board of directors

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Because eczema is more than skin deep.

It’s the job interview where you can’t stop scratching. The date where you explain your hands. The night your child can’t sleep. The morning you cancel plans. It’s relationships, mental health, work, school and every moment that gets harder when your skin won’t cooperate.

We exist to make all of it better — through science that improves your quality of life, advocacy that breaks barriers and community that gets it.

Read stories from our community

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We evolve. We listen. We act.

Every decision about how we invest our time, talent and resources is guided by one question: Does this create the greatest value and impact for our community?

That means we don’t guess what you need — we ask. We don’t create programs in a vacuum — we build them with patients, caregivers, advocates and providers at the table. We don’t assume we have all the answers — we stay curious, evidence-driven and willing to change course when the community tells us to.

Meet our corporate supporters

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Patient-Centered. We’re grounded in the lived experiences of people with eczema and their caregivers. We turn your insights into action, shaping resources and initiatives that make daily life better.

Truth-Seeking. We’re guided by science, evidence and reason to deepen understanding of eczema and the community it impacts, continually driving learning and progress.

Accountable. We operate with integrity, honesty and transparency, building trust through credibility and responsibility in every action.

Read our 2026-2028 strategic plan

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NEA was founded in December 1988 when dermatologist Dr. Jon Hanifin, research nurse Susan Tofte and Irene Crosby, an individual with severe eczema, came together around a table at the Oregon Health and Science University library in Portland, Oregon. They were united by a single belief: people living with eczema deserved a dedicated organization in their corner.

Originally established as the National Eczema Association for Science and Education, NEA was built on a commitment to education, scientific research and community support from the very beginning. Today, NEA serves millions of people across the country through research funding, grassroots advocacy, healthcare provider education, community programs and events like Eczema Expo, all in pursuit of the same belief the founders set in motion more than 35 years ago.

Read more about our 35+ year history