How a Young Actress Learned to Navigate Her Eczema

Jennifer (Jenn) Etienne, 26, has achieved a successful career as an actress, singer and model. But as a teenager in Miami, she worried her worsening eczema symptoms meant her aspirations were hopeless.

“I read a comment online that said you can’t be an actress with eczema because directors won’t wait for flare-ups to clear,” Etienne said. “I was very depressed because I thought my dream was dead.”

From mild to severe

A primary care doctor diagnosed Etienne with atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, when she was 8. He prescribed a topical steroid cream and Etienne experienced mild symptoms for several years.

However, that all changed during high school. Etienne’s eczema symptoms, which included itchiness, dryness and inflammation, became much more severe. She remembers feeling embarrassed and self-conscious about the hyperpigmentation and redness on her skin, and always wore long sleeves and pants to avoid potential questions from classmates. 

To treat the worsening symptoms, Etienne’s primary care doctor gave her a stronger prescription. When it failed to bring relief, she quit using topical steroids entirely. She then experienced topical steroid withdrawal (TSW), although she didn’t know what it was at the time. “My eczema was spreading everywhere, and it was burning and I had so much trouble sleeping,” Etienne recalled.

The hunt for answers

During her junior year of high school, Etienne visited a dermatologist for the first time. Unfortunately, she said the visit wasn’t helpful. 

“When I showed him my skin, he just said I had eczema,” she said. “Obviously, I already knew that. I wanted to know why my skin went from mild to severe but he didn’t have an answer.”

That appointment spurred her to search for explanations on her own, and she soon found the National Eczema Association (NEA). By connecting with others with eczema on social media, and reading NEA’s online resources, Etienne discovered her symptoms were consistent with TSW.
She also learned her flares were likely caused by environmental factors. She now believes the carpet in her family’s home, which they had moved into when she was a freshman in high school, could have been one of the reasons her eczema intensified when it did. She thinks the carpets and rugs likely collected a lot of dust, which triggered her symptoms.

Pursuing her dream

Since Etienne didn’t want to use topical steroids again, she decided on a more natural approach. She applied moisturizer often, she still indulged in hot showers and did her best to avoid things that could trigger a reaction. After four years of severe symptoms, Etienne said her skin finally calmed when she left home to attend college.

It was also during this pivotal time that she found the courage to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an actress. After a friend inspired her to take an acting class, Etienne joined the theater program. She went on to graduate from Florida A&M University in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in theater and a minor in music. 

“When I was cast in my first short film, they didn’t care that I had eczema. All that mattered was whether I could act,” Etienne explained. “That person online was wrong.”

Today, Etienne primarily focuses on theatrical productions. She also teaches dance and drama in an after-school program.

Patiently navigating flares

After a few years of improved symptoms, Etienne said her eczema intensified again after moving back to Miami after college. However, she said it no longer has the power to damage her confidence, or hold her back from pursuing her acting. 

“I hated my eczema for a long time, but now I realize it’s a part of me,” Etienne said. “There’s a reason my skin is flaring. It’s my body trying to tell me that something’s going on.” To get her eczema back to a milder state, she is focused on identifying and avoiding triggers.

“But the biggest thing for me has been realizing that my skin needs time to heal,” Etienne explained. “I think of my eczema like a child having a tantrum. I’m more patient and understanding than I used to be.” 

Jennifer (Jenn) Etienne is a NEA Ambassador. If you’re an adult living with eczema or a caregiver of someone with eczema, join NEA Ambassadors.

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