Issue Nine: Sep/Oct '22

“There’s this thing called the itch- scratch cycle. You have an itch, you scratch it, which creates an itch, so you scratch it – it just goes round” LF LOCKER ROOM itch,” he says. “Some people get just a few localised itchy patches every year when the winter comes, but for some it’s a full-body condition, head-to-toe.” For James, there’s no such thing as a satisfying itch. “There’s this thing called the itch-scratch cycle. You have an itch, you scratch it, which creates an itch, so you scratch it – it just goes round,” he shares. “Getting out of that loop is so hard. It’s almost like going cold turkey on something.” Eczema doesn’t only manifest itself as physical symptoms. James says: “It can be stressful and can really play on your mental and physical health.” When his skin was at its worst, the condition even led James to skip plans with friends and family. “I mentally couldn’t face going anywhere with my face – it was bright red and burning! But also, physically, I was drained.” Despite the many drawbacks of eczema, James knows the importance of practising a positive mindset. He explains how his skin condition also makes him unique: