Being a trustee of the National Eczema Society is just one of the many hats worn by our MD, Suzanne Watson, having suffered with eczema for more than 30 years. 

As part of National Eczema Week, she is joining forces with Bradford’s leading consultant dermatologist to urge others with the condition to ‘take action’ during National Eczema Week (September 15-23). The event aims to empower people living with eczema and mark’s the charity’s national awareness week, themed ‘Take Action on Eczema’.

The event will be host to Professor Andrew Wright, consultant dermatologist from Bradford Hospitals and Honorary Visiting Professor at Bradford University, Senior Children’s Dermatology Nurse Julie Carr and Nurse Consultant Dermatology and Clinical Lead Sandra Lawton which includes a high impact session with Clinical Psychologist from the University of Sheffield, Andrew Thompson.

At the event, healthcare professionals will be offering advice, guidance and support to people with eczema with the aim to encourage them to ‘take action’ to control the condition – all of which will be done through the latest treatments, mindfulness and stress management.

Suzanne, who has been a member of the National Eczema Society for 26 years, is helping to host the dermatology question and answer sessions and will be sharing stories, tips and experiences with other people with eczema to help reduce isolation often felt by those with the condition.

“Eczema has the potential to affect every element of people’s lives which is why information events like this are so much more powerful, helpful and trustworthy than online communities or unsolicited online advice,” she said.

“For more than 40 years the National Eczema Society has worked with the very best dermatologists in the UK to provide up-to-date information for its members – information and support which can be a lifeline for people living with the condition.”

She added: “It’s fantastic that the national charity has chosen Leeds as the host city for its annual awareness event and I would urge anyone in the Bradford district who is living with or supporting someone living with eczema to come along and take advantage of seeing some of the country’s best eczema minds under one roof.

“Taking action on eczema can be as simple as sharing your experiences, taking that step of making an appointment to see your GP or simply contacting the fantastic team at the National Eczema Society. Eczema should not define you – we want those living with it to leave feeling informed, empowered and inspired and that’s the very first step in taking action against this misunderstood condition.”

The free information day on 22 September closes a Week of fundraising and awareness raising activities for the charity which supports the UK’s one in six adults and the one in 10 children with eczema.

National Eczema Society Chief Executive Andrew Proctor added: “On 22 September we’re offering a full day of information which will provide a solid tool kit for anyone experiencing eczema. A referral to a consultant dermatologist can historically mean joining a long waiting list so we are delighted to have such a wealth of experience and expertise available together in Leeds.”

The National Eczema Society’s ‘Take Action on Eczema’ free information event is on Saturday 22 September 2018 from 11.30am – 4.30pm at the St George’s Centre, 60 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3DL. Visitors are free to drop in at any time and will have an opportunity to speak one-to-one with a dermatology nurse about their own or their child’s eczema.

For full programme details and to register visit: www.eczema.org/national-eczema-week-information-day