After Misdiagnosis, I Learned to Speak Up For Myself: “It Was Liberating”

Eczema is a common yet challenging skin condition that can greatly impact a person’s daily life. For people of color, living with eczema is often a lifelong journey, marked by physical discomfort, emotional hurdles, and a search for effective treatments. Early Life with Eczema: A Manageable Condition Turns Challenging Awet Russom recalls his first experience with eczema around the age of seven. For much of his early life, the symptoms were relatively manageable. It wasn’t until high school that eczema started to affect more visible areas, which led to a heightened awareness of the condition. “I noticed a small rash on my eyebrow, and I realized it was starting to affect my face, or it felt like it was spreading,” Russom tells BlackDoctor.org. “At that time, I tried a lot of different things, but it significantly worsened, especially during college. It was actually debilitating for a little while.” With the eczema taking a toll on Russom’s mental and physical well-being, he dediced to prioritize his health more seriously, visiting multiple dermatologists. However, finding the right treatment remained elusive. “I went to see a dermatologist. That led to more dermatologist visits, but the treatment plans weren’t really working, so I had...