Here at QV, we recently carried out a survey* as part of our A Hand to Hold campaign to help us to understand the ways eczema, amongst other skin conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis, affects people emotionally.
We discovered that 43% of people feel very alone due to not having the right support, 59% said their skin condition had a negative impact on their social life and more than a third of people have experienced cruel comments or looks of disgust from strangers.
Furthermore, sadly only 9% of people living with common skin conditions said they feel confident and empowered, and as a result of this upsetting statistic, we have launched the ‘Restore your skin confidence’ initiative as part of our A Hand to Hold campaign. By doing this, we aim to help those who may be struggling to embrace their skin condition and help to educate people on the emotional and physical impact of living with a skin condition. We’re asking people to reach out their hand in support.
Our survey illustrated the effects living with a skin condition can have on a person’s confidence, self-esteem and mental health, as the following comments speak for themselves:
“I don’t leave the house much.”
“I’ve become quite agoraphobic as I’m so embarrassed.”
“It makes me feel very self-conscious so I don’t like looking in the mirror or going out.”
We want to encourage people to feel more confident, and if you feel like you need someone to talk to, consider speaking to your GP or a counsellor. Mental health charity MIND can also help you find the support you need. Visit www.mind.org.uk, call the Mind Infoline on 0300 123 3393 or send a text to 86463.
Stay tuned for more useful information and guidance from QV and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook @QVSkincareUK and Twitter @QVSkincare_UK.
* Statistics according to survey of 1250 people conducted by QV Skincare in June 2018.
[1] Lewis-Jones S and Mugglestone MA. Management of atopic eczema in children aged up to 12 years: summary of NICE guidance. BMJ 2007; 335(7632): 1263-1264.
[2] About us (Internet) 2018 Available from: http://www.eczema.org/about-us
]]>Earlier this year we launched our ‘A Hand to Hold’ campaign to help support those living with a skin condition and as the campaign continues at full speed, we’re excited to announce the launch of QV Confidence Day 2018.
We know that visible dermatologic conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, can have a devastating effect on body image and we first introduced QV Confidence Day last year, after research, we carried out found that 42 percent of people don’t like what they see when they look in the mirror.
We want to reach out to anyone feeling uncomfortable in their own skin and hope that together we can inspire confidence, so on Friday 23rd February 2018, we’ll be asking the UK to join together and show support to those around us in need of a confidence boost.
Scientific research has found that holding hands does a lot more than comfort a person, it also increases their overall happiness and promotes feelings of confidence. That’s why we’re encouraging people to hold out their hand to a friend or loved one this Confidence Day!
This Confidence Day, we’ll be giving one lucky winner the chance to win a £100 Red Letter Day voucher to share an experience with someone they care about. Simply tell us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages whose hand you’d like to hold using #QVConfidenceDay*.
To get you started, we’ve pulled together five confidence boosting tips:
Set a goal
Confidence is often built on accomplishment, whatever you set yourself, no matter how big or small - it could be as simple as going on a brisk walk, you’ll be sure to feel more composed from your achievement.
Love yourself
Loving yourself will make you feel more confident every day. Be sure to remind yourself how truly amazing you are, whether it be a morning note on your mirror or a small gesture. Show your strength through kindness, love, and endless smiles to pick you up when you’re feeling low.
Smile
We’ve all heard the phrase smile and the world smiles with you, well that’s because it’s true - a smile is infectious! When you smile it will help to boost your mood and increase happiness, and getting a smile back will give you an even bigger boost.
Meditate
Taking time out of our busy lives to sit back and clear our thoughts can help clear negative thought cycles and give us time to reflect. A calm mind is more likely to become a confident mind. You don’t need to spend a lot of time doing this and can simply sit back for 2 minutes, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. It may even help to recite a confidence affirmation whilst you breathe such as: “I am feeling confident today.”
Stand tall
When you stand tall with your shoulders back, core engaged and posture in place you will feel more awake and in control which will help to increase feelings of confidence. You can even practice this whilst you're sat down by sitting up straight in your chair instead of slumping. A study by Petty et al found that when a person sits up straight they are more likely to have confident thoughts and believe them!
Do you have any tips for improving confidence? Why not share them with us on social media @QVSkincare_UK #QVConfidenceDay
*Terms and conditions apply - visit our Facebook page for more information http://bit.ly/2DUz5i4
]]>