This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
September 12, 2019, marked a turning point for Rachel Ogola, a mother who had been struggling to understand and manage her son's eczema since birth.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), eczema is an inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy rashes that often affect children.
Rachel's son was born with eczema, and she first noticed his dry skin as soon as he was born. Despite seeking advice from doctors and using various treatments, including steroid creams, Rachel's son continued to experience flare-ups.
It was only after eight weeks that Rachel was finally diagnosed with eczema. She recalls, 'I had never heard of eczema. I would tell people and they would ask 'What's that?'
Shock and panic followed, accompanied by a myriad of questions. Rachel's journey with eczema led her to found the Eczema Society of Kenya (ESK) to spread awareness about the condition.
ESK aims to educate the public about eczema, a condition that has been neglected despite affecting millions of people worldwide. Rachel's son is now eight years old and has learned to manage his condition with regular moisturizing, using cotton bedding and clothes, and mild detergents.
However, Rachel still faces challenges, particularly when her son is discriminated against due to his condition. She emphasizes the importance of acceptance and learning how to manage eczema.
Follow ESK on Twitter: @EczemaSocietyKE and Facebook: @Eczema Society of Kenya (ESK).
