AN Ilkley woman who has suffered with eczema for more than 30 years is joining Bradford’s leading consultant dermatologist to urge others with the condition to ‘take action’ during National Eczema Week (September 15-23).

Suzanne Watson, managing director of PR and social media agency Approach in Ilkley, is using her voluntary role as trustee of the National Eczema Society to support the charity’s latest bid to empower people living with eczema through a free information event on 22 September in Leeds to mark the charity’s national awareness week, themed ‘Take Action on Eczema’.

Professor Andrew Wright, consultant dermatologist from Bradford Hospitals and Honorary Visiting Professor at Bradford University, joins Senior Children’s Dermatology Nurse Julie Carr and Nurse Consultant Dermatology and Clinical Lead Sandra Lawton at the event which includes a high impact session with Clinical Psychologist from the University of Sheffield, Andrew Thompson.

The healthcare professionals will be offering advice, guidance and support to people with eczema in a bid to encourage them to ‘take action’ to control the debilitating skin condition. through the latest treatments, mindfulness and stress management while giving an insight into the latest eczema research.

Suzanne Watson, who has been a member of the National Eczema Society for 26 years and became a trustee in 2011, is helping to host the dermatology question and answer sessions at the event and said sharing stories, top tips and experiences with other people with eczema is essential in reducing the isolation often felt by those with the condition.

“Eczema has the potential to affect every element of people’s lives which is why information events like this are so much more powerful, helpful and trustworthy than online communities or unsolicited online advice,” she said.

“For more than 40 years the National Eczema Society has worked with the very best dermatologists in the UK to provide up-to-date information for its members – information and support which can be a lifeline for people living with the condition.”

She added: “It’s fantastic that the national charity has chosen Leeds as the host city for its annual awareness event and I would urge anyone in the Bradford district who is living with or supporting someone living with eczema to come along and take advantage of seeing some of the country’s best eczema minds under one roof.

“Taking action on eczema can be as simple as sharing your experiences, taking that step of making an appointment to see your GP or simply contacting the fantastic team at the National Eczema Society. Eczema should not define you – we want those living with it to leave feeling informed, empowered and inspired and that’s the very first step in taking action against this hugely underestimated, misunderstood condition.”

The National Eczema Society’s ‘Take Action on Eczema’ free information event is on Saturday, September 22 from 11.30am – 4.30pm at the St George’s Centre, 60 Great George Street, Leeds LS1 3DL. Visitors are free to drop in at any time and will have an opportunity to speak one-to-one with a dermatology nurse about their own or their child’s eczema.

For full programme details and to register visit: www.eczema.org/national-eczema-week-information-day