𝗜’𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀…we are soon going to be the subject of a lot of stigma. I post this as a warning to my fellow itchy bitchez. Social media is now driving a chilling trend of photos being taken of people’s skin – usually their legs – at a distance and posted with speculation about whether they have monkeypox and if they should be self-isolating.
As someone with eczema, this trend scares me. When flares hit I already think people are staring at me because of anxiety and now there’s a strong chance they might be due to this social media fearmongering.
What’s worse is, it actually turns out “Anyone with immunocompromising conditions or certain skin conditions, such as eczema, is at risk of severe monkeypox disease” – CDC 2022(click here).
So, not only do we have this worry about people staring. If we actually catch monkeypox we may be at increased risk of a severe case of the disease.
“People with skin conditions are now being targeted and shamed by trigger-happy Twitter users who can’t resist jumping to conclusions about someone’s health and their assumed ‘reckless’ behaviour.
These kinds of photos have been condemned by leading skin experts at the British Association of Dermatologists, warning that this‘ 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭; 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.”
– Liam Beattie, Metro UK (CLICK HERE)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ARTICLE LIAM, every word resonated with me. It was like reading my own thoughts. Especially this:
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙖 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙚 – 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙠𝙚𝙮𝙥𝙤𝙭 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙏𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙮𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚.”
MY RESEARCH ⬇️
When you enter your research spiral you’ll find out people with skin conditions aren’t just at risk of a trial by social media…. there’s also contradictory information about the safety of the vaccine for people with eczema.
You’ll end up reading:
“Anyone who has (or had) eczema, should avoid:
Getting the live smallpox vaccine
Having skin-to-skin contact for about 30 days with anyone who gets the live smallpox vaccine” – American Academy of Dermatology 2022 (click here)
IN THE UK , a smallpox (Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA)) vaccination* is being offered to people who are most at risk right now to help protect them against monkeypox.
This vaccine is called Imvanex in the UK and Europe, Jynneos in the US and Imvamune in Canada.
These all contain the same MVA vaccine and are made by the same company in Denmark.
THE UK WILL NOT BE OFFERING THE LIVE VACCINE called ACAM2000.
Only the NON LIVE (okay for eczema/ skin condition suffers ) VACCINE JYNNEOS (also known as Imvamune or Imvanex).
BASICS: there are 2 types of vaccines. Uk is only using the MVA one that’s safe for Eczema sufferers.
DESPITE THIS, “If you have atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema), you may after the vaccine experience:
- more intense skin reactions such as redness, swelling and itching
- other general symptoms such as headache, muscle pain, feeling sick or tired
- a flare-up or worsening of your skin condition”
– CLICK FOR SOURCE
ADDITIONALLY…”Anyone with immunocompromising conditions or certain skin conditions, such as eczema, is at risk of severe monkeypox disease” – CDC 2022
For my American friends, I am hoping more clarity shall be provided about the different vaccines and what it means for them. How are you supposed to avoid contact with people who’ve had the ACAM2000 if you don’t know?
Next few months aren’t looking to fun for us itchy bitchez with social media fearmongering and general health anxiety/ fear of visible rashes. THE CASES ARE LOW, IT has not been declared a health emergency. my fear is not Monkeypox my fear is people being assholes and thinking before they speak.
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK.
💋
Itch N Bitch 