World Atopic Eczema Day 2026
25/08/2026
“Ask Me Anything” this World Atopic Eczema Day 2026!
This World Atopic Eczema Day 2026 on 14 September, the Global Allergy & Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP) and the global skin community are uniting to amplify the voices of patients, caregivers, and expert dermatologists. This year’s global theme, #BreakTheInvisibleBurden—led by the International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (Globalskin) and the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA)—calls attention to the hidden struggles that come with atopic eczema. Our goal is to turn that awareness into action by connecting patients directly with dermatologists from around the world through our #AskMeAnythingEczema campaign.
The burden of Atopic Eczema is widely misunderstood and underestimated
Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is frequently misunderstood as a simple, surface-level skin issue, yet its burden extends far deeper—impacting not only patients but also caregivers and family members. Studies show that disease severity is strongly linked with diminished patient quality of life, including physical pain, intense itching, sleep loss, anxiety, and depression1. Caregivers report emotional exhaustion, disrupted routines, social isolation, and financial stress stemming from intensive caregiving responsibilities, time-consuming treatments, and medical costs2. Awareness of the true disease burden remains low—both at societal and policy levels—so many underestimate its complexity, resulting in stigma and inadequate support for affected families.3
Atopic eczema care varies significantly by region, influenced by factors like insurance coverage, treatment availability, and access to specialized healthcare professionals. We’re not just raising awareness; we’re actively advocating for improved care that truly reflects the complex, multidimensional nature of this condition and addresses the immense burden it places on individuals and families.
Here’s how we’re taking action this year
This World Atopic Eczema Day, GAAPP is turning the conversation over to you.
Ask your question
Drop your question in the comments on our social media posts or in our Ask Me Anything stories—whether it’s about atopic eczema symptoms, triggers, treatments, mental health, or anything else on your mind.
Watch the doctor’s response
On September 14, our expert dermatologists from GAAPP’s regional alliances will record video replies answering your questions. GAAPP and participating member organizations will post them on their social media.
Meet some of our experts
No question is too big or too small. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, healthcare professional, or just curious—we want to hear from you.
Dr. Evelyne Ng’ang’a
Africa & Middle East
President of the Allergy Society of Kenya and a lead pediatric allergy specialist. She holds a Master of Philosophy in Allergology from the University of Cape Town and a Master of Medicine in Pediatrics from the University of Nairobi.
Dr. Vũ Trần Thiên Quân
Asia & Pacific Islands
Lecturer at tin the Department of Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Immunology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City. He serves as a Board Member and Vice-Treasurer for GAAPP, where he also leads the Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional alliance.
Dr. Anahi Yáñez
Latin America
Renowned researcher with 30 peer-reviewed articles and two clinical trials, leading expert in allergic and respiratory conditions.
Dr. Nives Pustišek
Europe
Dr. Pustišek serves as a leading medical expert at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb, working within the Department of Dermatology and Pediatrics. Alongside her clinical duties, she holds an academic position as an assistant professor at the University of Zagreb.
The Call to Action
Atopic eczema affects over 230 million people worldwide. Yet it remains excluded from national health strategies, underfunded, and misunderstood. The WHA Resolution on Skin Diseases has given us a powerful tool to advocate for change. Now it’s time to turn that resolution into action.
We call on policymakers and health systems to:
National Health
Recognize atopic eczema as a chronic disease in national health strategies
Access
Ensure equitable access to care and treatments
Research
Invest in research into the full burden of this disease
Join the conversation
Ask your question now in the comments on our social media posts.
Save the date: September 14—World Atopic Eczema Day.
Follow us and turn on notifications so you don’t miss the video replies from our expert dermatologists.
Communication grant for GAAPP Member Organizations
GAAPP has launched its communication grant for World Atopic Eczema Day 2026.
A €200 grant is offered to help your organization publish this campaign’s social media posts. The toolkit—with step-by-step explanations—is available in several languages. If you need these assets in another language, please contact , and we will be happy to arrange that for you.
To apply for the grant and obtain the social media assets, please click on the button below:
We thank the overall support from our Corporate Council members:
- https://www.medicaljournals.se/acta/content/html/10.2340/00015555-3511?utm_source=chatgpt.com ↩︎
- https://academic.oup.com/bjd/article-abstract/187/6/1038/6972582?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false&utm_source=chatgpt.com ↩︎
- https://atopic-d.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/EFA_Burden_of_Atopic_Eczema.pdf? ↩︎