[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 159 (Friday, September 30, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





    RECOGNITION OF MATTHEW BOYON AND NATIONAL ECZEMA AWARENESS MONTH

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                           HON. CHRIS PAPPAS

                            of new hampshire

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 30, 2022

  Mr. PAPPAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of my 
constituent, Matthew Boyon, and his family. Matthew is currently a 
student at Londonderry High School and has suffered from eczema his 
whole life. In honor of Matthew and the more than thirty-one million 
Americans with eczema, I would also like to take this opportunity to 
recognize October as National Eczema Awareness Month.
  Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes itchiness, dry 
skin, rashes, scaly patches, blisters and skin infections. There are 
seven forms of eczema, including the most common and chronic form, 
atopic dermatitis, and no known cure. Adults and children with eczema 
are at risk for, and frequently also experience additional comorbid 
health conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, 
and bacterial, viral and fungal skin infections.
  Additionally, adolescents with atopic dermatitis are more likely to 
report suicidal ideation compared to their nonaffected counterparts and 
sleep disturbances reported in 67 percent of children with atopic 
dermatitis. Parents of children with atopic dermatitis are 4 to 8 times 
more likely to average fewer than 6 hours of sleep per night.
  The impacts of living with eczema go beyond just health concerns. 
More than 66 percent of children with atopic dermatitis report being 
absent from school more than one day per year as a result of their 
illness and nearly forty percent of school-aged children and teens 
diagnosed with atopic dermatitis have experienced bullying due to their 
disease.
  The economic impacts of eczema are also staggering. 5.9 million 
workdays are lost due to eczema annually and the annual economic burden 
of eczema, including direct medical costs, indirect costs from lost 
productivity, and quality of life impacts, is estimated at $5.3 
billion.
  On behalf of my constituents in New Hampshire's First Congressional 
District, I want to thank the Boyon family for bringing awareness to 
this condition and hope my fellow Americans will join me in recognizing 
National Eczema Awareness Month.

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