Suzanne Johns knows what it's like to scratch her skin until it bleeds.

She has lived with eczema most of her life and is painfully aware of the physical and emotional trauma it causes.

Every day she applies medically-prescribed cream to her skin and that of her son Ben, three, who also has eczema.

To highlight National Eczema Week, Suzanne and her staff at Bradford company Approach PR were wrapped in bandages for 12 hours, raising awareness of life with the condition.

"Failure, desperation and guilt are the typical feelings of someone living with eczema," said Suzanne, a member of the Bradford and District Eczema and Psoriasis Support Group.

"Eczema isn't only about physical discomfort or inconvenience, it also affects our social and personal lives.

"Research shows eczema has a greater impact than any other skin condition on a person's quality of life.

"The theme of National Eczema Week is Life's an itch - eczema and me'. The aim is to raise awareness of eczema as a physical and emotional condition and show that life may be an itch but with the right information and support it needn't stop you living a full life."

Suzanne and her staff, Emma Streets and Emma Dover, were wrapped in bandages by nurse Lesley Matthews to experience what eczema sufferers go through and to raise funds for the National Eczema Society.

Nurse Matthews applied thick layers of emollient - medical moisturiser - to their skin before covering them in bandages.

Emma Dover said: "I don't have eczema but my sister does and when she was a child my mum bandaged her up every morning. She used to get really upset and I didn't understand what she was going through. Now I have an idea."

Suzanne wore an adult body suit covering her upper body and legs.

"While in hospital with a severe flare-up several years ago, I was covered in bandages tied together," she said.

"This body suit is like one big sock bandage, so it's more comfortable and makes it easier to go about doing normal everyday things.

"But it's still difficult to do the whole bandaging process on a daily basis, especially if you're the parent of a child with eczema. Eczema affects one in five children and one in 12 adults. Sufferers live with painful, cracked, often bleeding skin. Other family members often feel helpless, guilty and exhausted.

"Bandages reduce the urge to scratch. Being wrapped in them for a day means we've got under the skin of what it means to live with eczema."

Chief executive of the National Eczema Society, Margaret Cox, said: "Eczema is far more than a skin complaint, it can affect relationships, self esteem and even lead to depression. We need greater recognition of the impact eczema can have on a person's life to help improve the medical advice and understanding patients receive."

Nurse Matthews will be at the next meeting of the Bradford and District Eczema and Psoriasis Support Group at the Dermatology ward, St Luke's Hospital, on Wednesday, October 11, at 7.30pm.

The National Eczema Society has produced a booklet on the psychological impact of eczema called Mind Over Eczema. To order a copy, or for more information, ring 0870 241 3604, email helpline@eczema.org or visit www.eczema.org.

e-mail: emma.clayton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk