Cynthia Corfah, a New Orleans journalist, social media specialist, and influencer, was born with eczema. When she was a baby, her mom used to put socks on her hands to prevent her from scratching so much. Eczema symptoms can look like a rash on swollen skin that varies in color depending on your skin color, small, raised bumps, or dry, itchy, and irritated skin, such as the case for Cynthia. Despite having grown up with the condition, in her mid-20s Cynthia’s eczema got worse. “My skin was malfunctioning,” she says. “I felt like I could hardly recognize myself. I lost my confidence and the desire to take photos.”
At the time, Cynthia wanted to explore treatment options that didn’t involve topical steroids, but unfortunately, was met with dismissal from doctors. “I remember going to my car after the appointments and sobbing because I felt like I wasn’t being heard,” says Cynthia. After constant shame from her doctors, Cynthia did find a healthcare provider who listened to her. “I felt safe enough to tell her ‘this is what I’m willing to try and these are the things I’m not willing to try’ and she supported that,” says Cynthia.
Now, Cynthia feels stronger than ever and knows how to advocate for herself in a medical setting. “I know that I am worth a doctor taking their time on,” she says. “Although dealing with eczema has been one of the toughest battles of my life, I am still grateful to it for making me more confident than ever before and have a voice for myself and others.” For those suffering from a similar situation, she says to listen to your own body because you’re the one who knows it best.
This article was created by SheKnows for Pfizer.