A Word on Self-Acceptance

This is the first time I’ve ever drawn my eczema. As an artist, I’ve always tried to portray perfect, blemish free skin. But why? My skin certainly does not look like that. In fact, the past few years I began topical steroid withdrawal and witnessed my body go through dramatic changes.

To stay active and positive, I’ve challenged myself to portray my skin.

My real skin; the good, the itchy and the inflamed

If you have eczema or are experiencing TSW, being positive can be so difficult. For me, the pain has been equal parts mental and physical. At times, it’s too much to bare. Even now I struggle with finding the words to describe the trauma. (If you know, you know)

So, I’ve started this little project to counter the negative thoughts. By creating eczema and TSW inspired art, I hope to fight our common enemy with kindness, acceptance and color.

It’s more than just being “inflamed” after all.

It’s the diffused redness and bone deep itch that’s taken over my body. The sore elephant skin that makes it hard to move. The weeping. The flaking. The edema. The insomnia. The chills. The swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. The seemingly unforgiving cycle.

It’s the feeling of shame and hopelessness. The fear of missing out. The cancelled plans and loss of friendships/relationships. The loss of self. The new debilitating version of “living”. The hyper dependence on others. The depression. The not knowing. The bed rotting. The medical gaslighting. The tears. The loneliness.

In your darkest days, please remember how strong you are. Everyday we fight this war on 2 fronts; the mental and physical. Give yourself grace. With time, I know we will all get through this.

Yours truly,
Liv