A Scottish schoolgirl who suffers from eczema that is so severe she wakes up with her bedsheets covered in blood is to star in a new cartoon to help other kids living with the condition.
Katie Burns, 10 , was diagnosed with eczema as a baby, with the condition leaving her skin red, inflamed and itchy.
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The youngster, from Dunfermline, often wakes up bleeding and sore from itching through the night and can be so self-conscious over how her skin looks during a flare-up that she covers up report the Record.
Katie's mum Jo says her daughter has even received 'horrible' comments from other children at school, with some asking if her eczema is 'contagious' and refusing to hold her hand.
Jo said: "Lots of people don't understand how debilitating eczema can be. Katie can spend all day itchy and sore and subconsciously scratch at her skin until it bleeds. Sleep can be disturbed with intense itching and often the bed sheets will be covered in blood from her breaking the skin in her sleep."
She added: "Now Katie is 10, she is more aware of her appearance and what other people think. She is generally quite upbeat but wants to cover up when she has a flare-up.
"When her eyelids and face are affected, she can get quite down about herself because she can't cover those areas and knows people will stare. She has had some horrible comments over the years, especially from other kids, asking if it is contagious or not wanting to hold her hand at school."
Schoolgirl Katie has been prescribed dozens of creams, steroids, and treatments over the years - but hasn't found much relief.
When visiting Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, Katie also tried light therapy - twice weekly sessions in a UV lightbox - but it didn't help. She has just started a new immunosuppressant treatment, which her family are hoping will make a difference.
"We are lucky that the dermatology department at our hospital is absolutely amazing. They will fit us into the clinic if Katie has a bad flare-up and has been so supportive. I know not all families are so fortunate and can really struggle to access dermatology," Jo said.
Although eczema is a physical condition, many sufferers including Katie find that it has a negative impact on their mental health and self-esteem.
It doesn't just affect those with the condition themselves - anyone who cares for those with eczema can feel the effects too, such as a lack of sleep and constant worry that they're doing all they can.
Seeking help and support, Katie and her family joined the charity Eczema Outreach Support (EOS). The UK-wide charity is based in Linlithgow and supports almost 4,000 children with eczema and their families.
The family signed up to EOS in 2018 and has attended many family events, allowing Katie to meet other children with severe eczema which makes her feel less alone.
To celebrate World Eczema Day (September 14), the charity has even created an animation about the condition starring Katie, who voices the cartoon herself. It also features other children from EOS that live with eczema.
Katie's mum Jo said: "Starring in the animation has been a huge boost for Katie. She is quite shy so I was surprised she wanted to be involved but it's been good for her to have something positive to come from her eczema."
For World Eczema Day, EOS has launched the 'You Can Hold My Hand' - a social media and advocacy campaign to reduce the stigma around eczema.
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Christine Roxburgh, CEO of EOS said: "Even in 2022, some people still think eczema is contagious and are wary of holding hands for fear of catching the condition. We hear from members all the time that people are wary of touching skin affected by eczema. During a flare, people with eczema can be very sore and feel incredibly self-conscious.
"Often their mental wellbeing is impacted by their skin looking inflamed and raw, so dealing with insensitive comments or fear of being left out can be very hard.
"You cannot catch eczema, and it is perfectly safe to hold the hand of someone with the condition and we hope lots of people back our campaign for World Eczema Day."
You can visit here for more information on how to back the campaign and here to watch the new animation on childhood eczema. Anyone can also join EOS for free at www.eos.org.uk.
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