Q&A: Danielle Jonas on Eczema Awareness Month, Finding Clinician Support, and Why Laundry Impacts Skin Health

To kick off October’s Eczema Awareness Month, Dermatology Times spoke with Danielle Jonas, a mother, entrepreneur, and eczema advocate, in an exclusive conversation about her personal journey with atopic dermatitis (AD). Jonas, who is collaborating with the National Eczema Association (NEA) and Henkel, reflected on the multifactorial nature of eczema triggers, the emotional impact of her symptoms, and the importance of clinician-patient communication, while also underscoring how everyday exposures can influence disease management.

DT: Can you describe your personal experience with AD and your initial diagnosis? What are some unique challenges in managing your disease with your busy schedule as a mom and entrepreneur?

Jonas: I first noticed a lot of symptoms when I had my second pregnancy, and it was difficult realizing how the condition would impact me. I had also gotten Lyme disease, and the eczema just came in with that. My hair was falling out a lot. I had a lot of bald spots and everything. So, I just had to figure out some things for myself to make the situation better. Because your personality and just the way you feel have a lot to do with your hair. My daughters couldn't even brush my hair or play with my hair because it was falling out or my eczema had flared up. So, it was a tough thing to get through and my family was really my rock and my support. Being a mom to young kids and owning my own business...that balancing act, it was tough to prioritize my skin. So with eczema, putting my skin first probably was the most important for limiting the flare-ups.

DT: When did you realize that it was your laundry products that were impacting your flares and what product changes did you make?

Jonas: When I was diagnosed with eczema, I immediately began swapping things out, reading ingredients, and trying to make things "cleaner." When I found all® free clear laundry detergent, a brand recommended by dermatologists, it lined up with everything I wanted for my skin in the laundry room, because it does start in the laundry room. Putting your clothing on your skin is just like putting lotion on your skin...and just realizing that even the fabrics that you're putting up against you can flare you up. So we decided to go that route and it really worked for us.

DT: What does it mean for you to have the NEA Seal of Acceptance on a product? How does it influence your purchases and help you develop a routine for sensitive skin?

Jonas: I feel like when you see that seal, you just automatically sense that trust. You know that product is going to be good for your sensitive skin. I do look for the seal and prioritize those kinds of products when building my skin care routine, just to give me a remedy and trusted steps, like with the detergent, for example.

DT: What has your personal experience been like with your dermatologists? In your opinion, what makes a relationship between a clinician and a patient most effective?

Jonas: You definitely can't do it without them and all their knowledge. I look for somebody who will really listen to me and all the little things that I'm saying. My eczema symptoms may not line up exactly with what another person says about their eczema. So I do look for somebody who listens closely, takes all that information in, and can say, "Let's try this out and see if this helps." To be the person sitting in the seat and having another person listening to you, I think, is the most important thing to have. And when you're going through something like that, it also feels good to have somebody on your side going through it with you. It can be a lot and it can be a little bit devastating when there's certain symptoms that just affect your whole life.

DT: What's your final message to our audience of dermatologists that you want them to take away from your experience and from this collaboration with all® free clear and the NEA?

Jonas: I do want to say thank you to all the dermatologists for helping those in the eczema community, especially since this condition can be uncomfortable and physically and emotionally draining. I hope that by being open with my journey, I can encourage others to prioritize their sensitive skin and their skin care routine beyond the lotions and the serums. Just knowing that it really does start in the laundry room and using products that feel safe and trusted gives you peace of mind.

[This transcript has been edited for clarity]