Canadian living with severe skin condition to shake a lifetime's worth of hands

• Tanya Mohan is on a cross-Canada mission to bring awareness to the physical and emotional impact of eczema and atopic dermatitis

TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - An average person will shake 15,000 hands in his or her lifetime¹ – Tanya Mohan will do that in a month by setting out on a cross-Canada mission to raise awareness about atopic dermatitis (AD).

Video: Canadian living with severe skin condition to shake a lifetime's worth of hands

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic form of eczema characterized by dry, inflamed and itchy skin.² It is caused by damaged skin and weakened immune systems due to genetic, immunologic, and environmental factors.³ The patches of eczema may ooze, become scaly, crusted, or hardened and symptoms can range from mild to severe.⁴ While not contagious, it makes a profound impact, with many of those that have it shying away from human contact.

Tanya has lived with atopic dermatitis her whole life, impacting her personal relationships, life choices and self-confidence. Constant scratching has caused cuts and scars on her skin and the symptoms of AD are the reason she has never been able to get a full night's sleep.

"AD is not a disease I can hide, it is always out in the open and always on my mind – there's no escaping the symptoms and visibility," says Tanya Mohan. "I want to raise awareness about how this disease impacts people's lives and, through this challenge, show that Canadians are willing to learn and appreciate the difficulties people with AD face on a daily basis."

According to the Eczema Society of Canada's 2017 Quality of Life report, almost half of those living with AD avoid social activities while 40 per cent steer clear of any intimacy at all.⁵ That has a deeply negative impact on social lives, romantic relationships, and even employment. In other words: a handshake can make a big difference.

"Many people don't realize that in addition to the physical symptoms of atopic dermatitis, patients can also experience significant impact to their well-being and mental health," explains Amanda Cresswell-Melville, Executive Director of the Eczema Society of Canada. "It can be an extremely debilitating disease that goes well beyond dry, red or itchy skin." 

A Lifetime of Handshakes will shed light on the realities that patients face. According to the Quality of Life report, itchiness alone can significantly limit a patient's social, sexual, academic and work life, and leads to sleep loss.⁶

Tanya and the Lifetime of Handshakes tour travels across Canada as follows:

• Ottawa, Ontario
  Date: February 20, 2018
  Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (EST)
  Location: 90 Wellington Street
  
  
• Vancouver, British Columbia
  Date: February 21, 2018
  Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (PST)
  Location: Corner Hornby Street and Robson Street
  
  
• Edmonton, Alberta
  Date: February 22, 2018
  Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM (MST)
  Location: Corner Jasper Street and 100 Street

This month, raise awareness about atopic dermatitis by supporting Tanya's mission and goal, and shake her hand. For more information, visit handshakes.ca.

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This month, raise awareness about atopic dermatitis by supporting Tanya's mission and goal, and shake her hand. For more information, visit handshakes.ca.

References
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¹ Daily Mail UK. (2010). Firm squeeze and three shakes: scientists devise formula for the perfect handshake. July 16. Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1294962/Scientists-perfect-handshake-formula-Firm-squeeze-shakes.html. Accessed January 5, 2018.

² Eczema Society of Canada. (2017). Atopic Dermatitis Quality of Life Report (Moderate-to-Severe Disease – 2016/2017 Survey Results). Keswick, Ontario.

³ Barber, K. et al. (2016). Atopic Dermatitis: A Practical Guide to Management. https://eczemahelp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/ESC-Atopic-Dermatitis-Practical-HCP-Guide-2nd-Ed-2016.pdf. Eczema Society of Canada. Accessed October 20, 2017.

⁴ Eczema Society of Canada. About Eczema. https://eczemahelp.ca/about-eczema/about-eczema/. Accessed November 9, 2017.

⁵ Eczema Society of Canada. (2017). Atopic Dermatitis Quality of Life Report (Moderate-to-Severe Disease – 2016/2017 Survey Results). Keswick, Ontario.

⁶ Eczema Society of Canada. (2017). Atopic Dermatitis Quality of Life Report (Moderate-to-Severe Disease – 2016/2017 Survey Results). Keswick, Ontario. https://eczemahelp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/ESC_QUALITY_OF_LIFE_REPORT_2017.pdf.  

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