Landmarks across Canada will glow blue in November for Eczema Awareness Month
Two-thirds of Canadians with eczema who were surveyed say they struggle to find a treatment that manages it long-term, the Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) said Friday as November’s Eczema Awareness Month begins.
The survey, The Burden of Eczema in Canada, found 65% of respondents say eczema affects their quality of life and 54% say it affects their mental health. ESC’s 2025 report said the survey drew on 389 adults across Canada who self-identified as having a diagnosis from a health care provider.
“These findings reinforce that eczema is more than a skin condition. It is a chronic disease that can profoundly affect physical health, mental well-being, and quality of life,” said Amanda Cresswell-Melville, ESC’s executive director.
“This November, landmarks across Canada will shine blue to raise awareness about the burden of eczema and the urgent need for timely diagnosis, improved care and equitable access to effective treatments.”
Atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, is a chronic inflammatory skin condition marked by dry, itchy skin and flares that can crack, ooze and bleed. A 2025 consensus paper by 10 Canadian dermatologists cited prevalence of about 15% among children and 4% among adults.
Cost and access concerns
Overall, 25% of respondents said treating their eczema had caused a financial burden, rising to 32% for severe eczema. And 13% said financial concerns delayed the start of a prescription treatment, a share that rose to 26% among severe cases. Respondents who identified as persons with skin of colour or BIPOC reported financial burden more often (39%) than white respondents (21%). Worry about being prescribed a medication not covered by a drug plan was among the concerns listed.
Private plans are feeling the demand. Skin disorders have become the second-largest drug category in Canadian private plans, at 9.9% of total eligible spend, TELUS Health reported in April, with spending up 13.6% in 2025. The company attributed this to biologics such as Dupixent moving into first-line use for atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Medavie Blue Cross separately reported a 50.7% trend increase for biologics for inflammatory skin conditions, as more atopic dermatitis patients move to treatments costing over $2,000 per month.
“More people in Canada are using their drug plans and they’re accessing treatments that were unattainable a few years ago,” said Vicky Lee, a pharmacist and director of pharmacy consulting and professional services at TELUS Health.
Hand eczema and the workplace
ESC notes hand eczema is commonly job-related and can be worsened by frequent hand washing and exposure to chemicals. Canada’s Drug Agency estimates chronic hand eczema affects 6.2% of adults, and ESC’s separate survey of 230 people with hand eczema, taken from June to October 2025, described effects on work, relationships and mental health.
Treatment options have since expanded. Health Canada approved delgocitinib cream (Anzupgo) in August 2025, and Canada’s Drug Agency issued a final recommendation on Nov. 13, 2025 that public plans reimburse it with conditions, including a cost no higher than alitretinoin, though it said the drug is not good value at the public list price. LEO Pharma, the manufacturer, said in September it had finalized a letter of intent with the pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance, a step toward public reimbursement.
In December 2025, nursing associations wrote to Canada’s chief nursing officer urging that chronic hand eczema be recognized as a significant occupational health issue.
For plan sponsors and advisers, the data point to skin-condition biologics as a growing cost line, while ESC’s survey flags access, affordability and workplace-understanding gaps for members.
