Eczema Pop Quiz: Contact Dermatitis Edition
Test your knowledge to see if you know these surprising facts about contact dermatitis.
Published On: Feb 3, 2025
Last Updated On: Feb 3, 2025
With help from her doctor, Madalyn Meagher Hamm, 21, enjoyed her wedding day with minimal interference from her eczema. It was a welcome reprieve because every other day, especially over the last two years, she was battling with her skin.
Hamm, a student and barista from Minot, North Dakota, has gradually learned to accept her atopic dermatitis diagnosis and is better able to handle its physical and mental side effects. However, acceptance doesn’t mean feelings of self-consciousness disappear entirely. She emphasizes that it’s OK to admit that some days are more difficult.
“One of the things with being a National Eczema Association (NEA) Ambassador is I can spread awareness about the importance of mental health,” Hamm said. “Taking care of your mental health can help you feel better even when your skin is flaring.”
Hamm was just a baby when she was diagnosed with atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema. As her parents recall, healthcare providers didn’t offer many ideas for how to soothe her red, itchy skin.
She says her mother initially used diaper rash cream before gradually turning to topical steroids and other lotions as Hamm got older. “I remember crying a lot as a kid because some of the lotions would burn, and I’d have open wounds from scratching,” Hamm explained.
As a high school student, Hamm refused to allow her skin to dictate her life. She loved the stage and participated in theater and ballet. “At the same time, I felt anxious and depressed when I had visible flare-ups,” she said. “People would ask me if I had a hickey or if I’d been choked. It was hurtful.”
Unfortunately, Hamm’s symptoms intensified after starting college. “My eczema has been the worst it has ever been,” Hamm said, describing intense itchiness, dryness and bleeding from broken skin.
That’s why in January 2024, during yet another bad flare, Hamm didn’t initially think much of it. By the time she went to urgent care, she had developed a staph infection on her skin — which can lead to sepsis if left untreated.
“I had a stress flare-up and then was on antibiotics for strep throat, which we think may have led to the staph infection,” said Hamm. “Thankfully, I went to the doctor in time. They told me if I’d waited any longer, I would’ve been admitted to the hospital.”
The skin infection occurred just five months before Hamm’s wedding, and her severe eczema symptoms showed no signs of getting better.
Determined to not allow her skin to negatively impact her big day, Hamm and her allergist agreed on a temporary plan. Beginning in March 2024, they aggressively targeted her eczema with oral and topical steroids.
By her wedding day on June 1, Hamm’s symptoms had cleared dramatically. “The redness wasn’t completely gone, but we got my eczema under control for one day, and I was very happy.”
Today, Hamm manages her eczema with weekly allergy shots, a Dupixent prescription, and topical steroid cream as needed. She said this regimen has “helped a lot” as her skin continues to heal.
Hamm’s experience with eczema and her passion for mental health have influenced her professional ambitions. She is majoring in social work at Minot State University. “I wanted to get into an industry where I can help people,” Hamm explained.
As part of that mission, she is excited to use her volunteer role as a NEA Ambassador to help others feel supported. Hamm said joining fellow NEA Ambassadors, accessing NEA’s resources for guidance on managing eczema and connecting with people who go through the same struggles has improved her experience significantly.
“I’ve gone through a lot with my own mental health over the past couple of years, and I still get self-conscious when my skin is flaring on my face, arms and legs,” Hamm acknowledged.
“But at the end of the day, I know my husband, my family and my friends love me no matter what,” Hamm said. “That’s why I encourage others with eczema to lean on the people who understand and accept them. That support is one of the biggest things that has helped me in my journey with eczema.”
Madalyn Meagher Hamm is a NEA Ambassador. If you’re an adult living with eczema or a caregiver of someone with eczema, join NEA Ambassadors to make a difference for the eczema community.
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