The Complex Relationship Between Social Media, Body Image, and Atopic Dermatitis

When you’re young, your self-esteem can be indirectly linked to your appearance — and, for better or worse, what others think. Add in social media, and things can get even trickier.

The question remains: Do these online platforms do more harm than good? Here’s everything you need to know about the ups and downs of social media when you have atopic dermatitis.

Instagram vs. Reality: The Downsides of Social Media and Atopic Dermatitis

There’s nothing more annoying than seeing someone’s “glass skin” post when your own skin is sporting a rash. It’s a common feeling among young adults with atopic dermatitis. “They may feel embarrassed or inadequate about their skin when they see people who have clear skin posting pictures,” says Walter Liszewski, MD, a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.

If you find yourself feeling that way, remember that social media isn’t the real world. “There are things like filters and Photoshopping images, and it’s not necessarily grounded in reality,” says Dr. Liszewski. “For a lot of young adults who are trying to find their place in the world and identify themselves, it can create unrealistic expectations. And a failure to meet those expectations can result in anxiety and depression.”

It doesn’t help that there’s still a lot of stigma surrounding atopic dermatitis. For example, many people — both online and in real life — mistakenly think atopic dermatitis is contagious. This can cause people who have the condition to “be afraid to post pictures of themselves with a rash, because [other] people are going to think that they’re dirty or have some sort of infectious disease,” says Liszewski. “It makes them very self-conscious.”

There’s also plenty of medical misinformation on social media about how to manage the condition, giving bad advice such as, “Just ignore it and it’ll go away” or “Use this moisturizer and your skin will clear right up.”

“This can be especially problematic for young people, who may not know the difference between what a reliable source is for medical information versus what isn’t,” says Liszewski. “It sort of turns into an echo chamber where, when everyone on a social media site is saying to use product X, people are going to assume that’s what they should use. But in reality, it may make eczema worse.”

Not sure where to find credible information about atopic dermatitis? Start here:

Atopic Dermatitis Connection and Community: The Upsides of Social Media

Using social media when you have atopic dermatitis isn’t all bad.

• Connect with and support others
• Educate yourself about the condition
• Break down geographic and physical barriers that might prevent you from finding help
• Learn some healthy habits
• Reach healthcare professionals
  

“Knowing you’re not alone in the world, dealing with this, those social structures and that reinforcement makes people less self-conscious or less depressed or less anxious about their disease,” says Liszewski.

So when it comes to social media use if you have atopic dermatitis, it’s all about taking the good with the bad and knowing your limits. That includes knowing when to stop scrolling and making sure you always like yourself.