Meet​ ​Carissa​ ​-​ ​A​ ​Story​ ​of​ ​Hope

“I​ ​thought​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​monster.”

Imagine​ ​having​ ​raw,​ ​irritated,​ ​and​ ​bleeding​ ​skin​ ​that’s​ ​painful​ ​and​ ​ever​ ​persistent.​ ​Now​ ​imagine that​ ​you​ ​are​ ​a​ ​child.​ ​Twelve​ ​year​ ​old​ ​Carissa​ ​has​ ​suffered​ ​from​ ​severe​ ​Eczema​ ​her​ ​entire​ ​life. From​ ​allergy​ ​testing​ ​to​ ​steroids​ ​to​ ​diets​ ​and​ ​baskets​ ​of​ ​lotions​ ​and​ ​creams,​ ​Carissa’s​ ​family tried​ ​dozens​ ​of​ ​treatment​ ​methods​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​her​ ​some​ ​relief​ ​and​ ​nothing​ ​worked…until​ ​now.

“They​ ​picked​ ​on​ ​me​ ​because​ ​I​ ​looked​ ​different​ ​from​ ​them.​ ​I​ ​wasn’t​ ​the​ ​same.

Eczema​ ​left​ ​Carissa’s​ ​skin​ ​vulnerable​ ​to​ ​infection​ ​and​ ​it​ ​also​ ​took​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​toll​ ​on​ ​her​ ​self confidence.​ ​She​ ​was​ ​bullied​ ​by​ ​her​ ​classmates​ ​at​ ​school​ ​because​ ​of​ ​her​ ​appearance.​ ​A​ ​rumor spread​ ​that​ ​her​ ​skin​ ​condition​ ​is​ ​contagious.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​horrific​ ​for​ ​Carissa​ ​because​ ​not​ ​only​ ​was she​ ​was​ ​shunned​ ​by​ ​her​ ​peers​ ​emotionally,​ ​but​ ​she​ ​was​ ​physically​ ​isolated​ ​from​ ​them​ ​as​ ​well. She​ ​felt​ ​lonely​ ​and​ ​helpless​ ​in​ ​her​ ​despair.

“I’m​ ​still​ ​a​ ​human​ ​being,​ ​I​ ​just​ ​have​ ​something​ ​wrong​ ​with​ ​my​ ​skin.”

Despite​​ the ​​circumstances,​​ Carissa’s ​​story​​ does​​ have​​ a ​​happy​​ ending.​

Visit aveneusa.com/hope​​ ​to​ ​watch​ ​the​ ​full​ ​video​ ​on​ ​Carissa​ ​
and​ ​how​ ​she​ ​has​ ​finally​ ​found HOPE.

Did you know that 1 in 5 children suffering with Eczema is bullied? In an effort to help, Avène is donating 100% of proceeds from this “Kindness is Power” tote bag and kits to the Kind Campaign, an organization focused on bringing awareness and healing to the negative and lasting effects of bullying. These kits are inspired by Carissa’s regimen of soothing essentials that help reinforce her confidence and strength to overcome.

Click here to shop now!