Atopic Dermatitis is a genetic disease that causes itching, redness on the skin and can cause pain, explains the dermatologist and Medical Advisor of the Association of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (APAPSO Peru), Susy Joy.
According to the specialist, 45% of patients with atopic dermatitis start their disease in the first 6 months of life, 60% during the first year and 85% before 5 years of age and it is mainly associated with stress. In addition, many children with significant injuries in visible areas are often discriminated against by their peers and judged negatively. They can even become teased and bullied, which causes children affected with Atopic Dermatitis to isolate themselves, become depressed and even decide to stop going to school. That is why making this disease visible is sought to have adequate support from schools, teachers, classmates and the patient’s family.
For this reason, APAPSO PERU seeks to generate a community of ambassadors called #Guardianesdelaniñez who support, make visible and raise awareness about Atopic Dermatitis in Peru; To achieve this, a virtual workshop was held for the main blogger moms and dads in our country on “How to encourage parenting free of stigma and prejudice” by Talía Herrera, psychologist, psychotherapist and educator in positive discipline, who shared important tools on how to handle situations with our children to eliminate prejudice and stigma (bullying) towards boys and girls who are different due to some illness or condition (such as Atopic dermatitis). The attendees also heard the testimony of Marixa Ramírez, Camila’s mother, a girl who suffers from severe Atopic Dermatitis and who fights every day not to be judged due to her illness.
“We want mothers or fathers who are caregivers to know that in APAPSO PERU they can find important guidance, information and emotional support tools so that their children can have a better quality of life,” said Karina Chávez, founder of the Psoriasis Association, Psoriatic Arthritis and other stigmatizing skin diseases (APAPSO-PERU).
For more information on this and other workshops visit https://psoriasis.org.pe/
You can watch the video of the workshop at https://youtu.be/kGtKWv0VTK0
