According to the British Skin Foundation, “nine out of ten dermatologists agree that not enough importance is placed on the psychological effects resulting from skin conditions.” This is one of many statistics that reveals the impact skin problems have on young people and adults around the world.
We may not be experts in emotional intelligence and children’s psychology, but we cannot ignore the connection between skin conditions and the development of social confidence in the youth of our communities in Cambodia.
A recent study conducted in Singapore found that severe forms of acne, eczema, and other skin diseases can lead to “depressive symptoms, social isolation, loneliness, and decreased quality of life.”
Let’s take a closer look at some core issues that can affect young children with severe skin conditions.
Skin Problems & Social Anxiety
To some people, social anxiety might not sound like a big deal, but it is a real problem in modern society. If young children cannot develop confidence in how they express themselves, this can negatively impact their development into adulthood.
If we want our children to grow up to have successful careers and become competent parents, their ability to believe in themselves and communicate confidently is vital.
People who know how to express themselves effectively and process emotions have a greater sense of well-being.
Bullying At School & Cyber Bullying
Severe skin conditions are, unfortunately, an easy target for bullying. When other children at school or online isolate a child, it can be an overwhelming experience that causes them to withdraw entirely or develop aggressive behaviors toward others or themselves.
The early years of a child’s life are when their personality is formed. Behavior change is possible later in life, but it takes plenty of work and willpower. This is one reason that bullying of any kind can make a huge difference in any young person’s future.
Bullying can also be challenging to identify – especially if the school is understaffed or lacks resources. This means children with skin conditions born into low-income families in Cambodia are at greater risk.
Negative Impact On Relationships Between Parent & Child
When social confidence is already an issue, communication can become easily distorted between a child and their parents.
Severe skin conditions can disrupt the healthy structure of a family. Young children may silently blame their parents for giving them skin problems.
Similarly, they may even blame their parents for not being able to afford treatment. This resentment can be expressed out loud or unconsciously. Even if it is not openly expressed, there can be hidden conflict inside the child that causes them to put up a wall between them and their loving parents.
It is essential to know that this is nobody’s fault. Children should not be blamed for this behavior. Parents should not blame themselves either.
By providing newborn and young children of Cambodia with solutions to severe skin conditions early in their lives, we can increase the chance of them growing up happy, full of self-belief, and in touch with positive family values.
THE SOLUTION: The Era Clinic’s Community Project
Introducing: Derma Kids Cambodia by Era
At The Era Clinic, we have a vision for the young people of Cambodia. We want to see young Cambodians confidently step into a new chapter in their lives. So many of us are born without these skin issues, and we don’t know how lucky we are. For young children with severe skin conditions, it is a different story.
The best part is that young people feel incredible joy when they overcome skin conditions. There is also an even greater potential for them to become a positive influence on other children who lack self-belief for any reason.
Many academic studies highlight the link between skin conditions and mental health. What can we do to fix it? Well, in severe cases, mental health services are the solution.
As you know, that is not our specialty at The Era Clinic. However, we are incredibly proud to make an effort to focus your attention on the young people of Cambodia suffering from severe skin problems. We wanted to raise awareness of this issue and find a way to help. That is why we have created our youth community project, Derma Kids Cambodia.
Our community project is about providing treatments for severe skin conditions to Cambodian children under 17 whose families cannot afford them.
If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 17 with severe skin conditions, visit our information page to see if you qualify for free treatment.
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