If you’re living with eczema, you’re already aware of the impact the condition can have on your life — but chances are strong that other people in your orbit don’t know as much as they could about the disease. That’s why it’s important to raise awareness for the condition — particularly in October, which is Eczema Awareness Month.

Raising awareness doesn’t just help other people understand your condition. MyEczemaTeam members have found that learning more about the condition helps them make more informed decisions around treatments and strengthens their feelings of self-reliance.

If you’d like to get involved in increasing awareness about eczema, consider taking a few important steps.

Start by Raising Your Own Awareness

Before you can create public awareness by sharing information with others, it’s a good idea to understand the specifics about eczema. Learn more about eczema’s causes, signs and symptoms, and treatments.

Eczema, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, develops when a person’s skin barrier is damaged, causing the immune system to become sensitized to irritants, dryness, and infections, which can then lead to inflammation. Eczema affects approximately 30 percent of the U.S. population, and it is more common in children and adolescents than in adults.

Share Awareness Resources

After you’re armed with information about eczema, you can share it with others. The fastest and least expensive way for this kind of advocacy is through social media. You can post information about eczema, share details about the condition, and join communities of other people who are also working to raise awareness about eczema.

You can follow the National Eczema Association on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

To ensure your messages on social media reach as many people as possible, consider using an appropriate eczema-related hashtag, like #Eczema, #AtopicDermatitis, or #GetEczemaWise. This way, your posts will be seen by more people who have the same interests, and they’re more likely to share and comment.

Social media helps raise awareness for the condition, and it also allows other people with eczema to realize they aren’t alone. Joining an eczema community on social media, such as MyEczemaTeam, can also help you connect with others.

Participate in Awareness Activities

Another way to raise awareness about eczema is to participate in an activity dedicated to the cause. You can walk or run for eczema, play bingo, host a silent auction or fundraiser, or even create a unique event that works for your interests. You can help other people understand more about eczema while having fun and raising money for the cause.

You can also share these “ready to tweet” eczema facts or these graphics from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). If you have the resources, you can also donate to the AAFA or the National Eczema Association to support eczema research and advocacy.

In addition, remember to engage in self-care. It is emotionally taxing to educate others about your lived experiences, so know your limits and accept when to put your mental well-being first. Your mental health and community support are just as important as your physical well-being.

Connect With Others Who Understand

On MyEczemaTeam, more than 38,000 people living with eczema come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with the condition.

Share your eczema journey in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.