Adolescence is a time of transition from childhood to adulthood during which there are rapid changes in physical, social, and emotional development. Coping with the onset of skin disease during this vulnerable time can be difficult. This is an excellent and much needed resource to support adolescents with skin disease by providing reliable information on common issues, addressing some of the myths around skin disease and promoting emotional wellbeing. An essential read for adolescents with skin disease and for the people who look after them. * Dr Tanya Bleiker, President, British Association of Dermatologists (BAD), 2021 *
The impact of skin diseases on people's lives can be profound due to their public visibility, commonly causing distress, anxiety, and embarrassment. Yet treatments mostly focus on the physical aspects, often neglecting the impact on our mental health. This is an excellent, much needed, and accessible book written with young people and the common skin problems they encounter in mind, easy to understand yet comprehensive and holistic in its approach. * Professor Carsten Flohr, Chair in Dermatology & Population Health Sciences, King's College London, UK President, British Society for Paediatric Dermatology (BSPD), 2021 *
A must-read for young people living with a skin condition and their families. This book provides clear and up-to-date information on a wide range of conditions while acknowledging their potential psychological and social impact on life. A highlight of the book, the final section, offers compassionate advice about living better, covering some crucial aspects of physical and mental health relevant to the reader. Each chapter shares a powerful message of hope and optimism, which young people struggling to cope with their skin condition desperately need. * Magali Redding, CEO, Eczema Outreach Support, UK *
Skin conditions in young people includes a fantastic guide to our skin condition, offering practical, achievable advice on managing your vitiligo and its impact on you. We were pleased to contribute to this book, which will help give young people the confidence to live comfortably in their vitiligo skin. * Emma Rush, CEO, Vitiligo Support, UK *
Skin conditions in young people embodies the values of both The Dipex charity and healthtalk.org. By understanding a health condition holistically, both young patients and health professionals are better able to understand the wider impact of issues such as skin conditions and improve experiences and care. * Adam Barnett, CEO, The Dipex Charity, UK *
I found it very useful, especially the final section about the mental side of skin conditions. I felt that I could relate to quite a few things in the book and it has helped me to cope with my scarring and speak to my parents more about the things I have been worrying about. * Thomas, age 18 (acne) *
I found this so useful- it was information that had never been explained to me well. I am now managing my eczema so much better. * Nadia, age 16 (eczema) *
I liked the simple message about eczema not being your fault, and that sometimes it will flare for no reason. It's better not to drive yourself crazy trying to work out why it flared, but to just focus on getting on top of it and trying to not let it stop you doing the things you enjoy. * Callum, age 13 (eczema) *
The HS chapter actually made me feel a bit better about the condition, especially in terms of feeling 'dirty'. * Jessica, age 14 (hidradenitis suppurativa) *
Straight away I read the section 'Living in your skin'. This is something that I know I struggle with regardless of the fact that other people have far more severe psoriasis than me. Reading through it, I found that I have experienced so many of the feelings referenced. The typical 'Why me' is a really common thought. Another is that I would feel happier without psoriasis. This is hard to deal with as it's very difficult to control. But knowing more ways to tackle these thoughts is useful. This was great to read and seemed to be really in line with feelings that I've experienced for a while. * Luke, age 16 (psoriasis) *