Strength in the Struggle: The Fight against Flare-Ups

What does it mean to accept life with eczema when you’re still trying to understand what’s happening to your skin? In our season finale, dancer and filmmaker Briana Banos joins host Dylan Marron to share how her experience with eczema and topical steroid withdrawal challenged her understanding of her body and what healing was supposed to look like. As her symptoms reshaped her everyday life, documenting what she was going through became a way to make sense of it and help others see what they couldn’t always understand. Briana reflects on giving herself permission to change course and finding ways to live fully while still figuring out what her skin needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you find your personal style when what you want to wear isn’t always what your skin can handle? Fashion content creator Andrew Polo joins host Dylan Marron to share how he found a love for fashion while navigating the frustrations of dressing with eczema. Andrew opens up about the considerations that familiar fashion advice often leaves out like how flakes could show up on black clothing and which fabrics irritate his skin. He reflects on finding room to experiment, building confidence without ignoring his insecurities, and helping others see that personal style can make room for eczema too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when an itch demands so much of your attention that it begins to take you away from the life you love? Filmmaker and athlete Jeremy Paredes joins host Dylan Marron to reveal how severe eczema and the relentless itch-scratch cycle disrupted his sleep, concentration, mental health and lifelong love of soccer. When his condition takes a life-threatening turn, Jeremy is forced to confront just how much eczema has taken from his life. He shares how the support of his “village” helped him find a way forward and how filmmaking allowed him to reconnect with the sport he loved, tell his story and begin feeling like himself again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you embrace the freedom of travel when eczema can make every trip harder before you have even left home? Solo traveller and writer Sarah Simon joins host Dylan Marron to share how she fell in love with exploring the world on her own even as her skin made each trip more complicated. From flare-ups triggered by packing and dry airplane air to sleepless nights spent managing the itch far from home, Sarah reflects on the physical and emotional work that happens behind the adventure and the difficult trip that challenged her habit of pushing through discomfort. She shares how travelling with eczema taught her to prepare for what she can, let go of what she can’t, and why taking a break doesn’t have to make the adventure smaller.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you live fully when a skin condition can shape what you wear, where you go, and whether you feel able to leave the house? Eczema patient advocate Ashley Ann joins host Dylan Marron to share what it was like growing up with atopic dermatitis that could change an ordinary day without warning – and the panic she felt when the topical treatment she had relied on for years suddenly stopped providing the relief she expected. She opens up about experiencing topical steroid withdrawal and rebuilding her trust in medical care. Ashley also reflects on the importance of asking more questions in the doctor’s office, recognizing when something isn't working, and how to meet flare-ups with something she never had as a child: the confidence that she will be okay.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when a skin condition threatens to take away the activity that makes you feel most like yourself? Lifelong competitive swimmer and International Topical Steroid Awareness Network (ITSAN) founder Kelly Palace joins host Dylan Marron to share how eczema and topical steroid withdrawal changed her relationship with the water. She opens up about swimming through the pain of cracked infection-prone skin, and the periods when she had to step away from the sport altogether. Kelly also reflects on finding her way back to the pool, setting boundaries around what her body could handle, and becoming a stronger, faster swimmer in her 60s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is it like to care for a child with severe eczema when they’re too young to tell you what hurts? Jennifer Roberge, founder of The Eczema Company, joins host Dylan Marron to share her son Tristan’s experience with childhood eczema and the toll it took on their entire family. She opens up about sleepless nights, the helplessness of watching her child struggle with relentless itching, and the pressure of making treatment decisions when nothing seemed to bring lasting relief. Jennifer also shares how finding other parents online helped her feel less alone, why caregivers need support too, and how her search for answers eventually inspired her to help other families living with eczema.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does living with eczema affect what you wear, how you socialize, and the way you see yourself? Journalist and eczema advocate Cynthea Corfah joins host Dylan Marron to share her experience with chronic eczema. She discusses the complicated line between genuine care and unwanted advice, the lack of eczema representation in Black skin, and the everyday work of preparing to be seen. She also explains how finding other Black women with similar experiences inspired her to create Black Girls With Eczema – and what it means to keep living, connecting, and “healing out loud” when healing isn’t linear.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Dylan Marron as he explores what it means to live in your skin when you’re dealing with eczema and other visible or chronic skin conditions. From the confidence it takes to show up during a flare to the routines and decisions that shape the everyday, Skinquiries shares personal stories about the many ways skin can shape daily life. Listen to Skinquiries every other week, starting July 23rd, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this last episode of season one of Skinquiries, we’re talking about plaque psoriasis, the trials of struggling with a visible and sometimes isolating skin condition, and the triumphs of overcoming self-consciousness and finding accurate treatment.   We’re joined by Jeanelle Rodriguez, who found confidence in herself regardless of the state of her flare-ups through determination and creating community. We're also joined by triple board-certified dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, who approaches skincare through the lens of holistic healing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.