[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     PROMOTION OF ECZEMA AWARENESS

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                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 11, 2019

  Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise to promote 
awareness of a skin condition for which we have not found a medical 
cure. Eczema.
  Eczema is a skin condition that causes red, itchy and inflamed skin 
and has profound medical, psychological, and economic impact on 
patients, families, and their communities. The prevalence of Eczema in 
the United States is 10.1 percent and Eczema impacts over 31.6 million 
children and adults in the United States alone. Patients afflicted with 
Eczema experience dry cracked and scaly skin, incessant itch, chronic 
pain and sleep deprivation. 41.5 percent of adult Eczema patients 
report having a concurring diagnosis of depression and 47.1 percent 
report having a concurring diagnosis of asthma. Adults and children 
with Eczema frequently also experience comorbidities like asthma, 
allergic rhinitis, food allergies, ADHD, bacterial and viral infections 
and hypertension. Eczema disease burdens also includes anxiety, stress 
on social and intimate relationships, increased suicidal ideation 
delayed developmental achievement, reduced self-esteem, restrictions on 
diet and exercise, extensive caregiver burdens, challenges with medical 
adherence and missed school days. Eczema sufferers miss days at work, 
disability, unemployment and under-employment and other opportunity 
costs.
  The direct medical cost of the three most common types of Eczema 
exceed $2.17 billion and the indirect medical cost exceed $927 million 
and two thirds of Eczema patients report experiencing significant 
barriers including high out-of-pocket costs and insurance requirements 
that delay patients access to medications.
  There is no cure for Eczema, but emerging technologies and 
medications promise a much brighter future for Eczema patients. Eczema 
is a serious health problem and we can't stop until we find a cure.

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