My Research Into Skin & Sunlight

Kirsty is a dermatology researcher at the Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). She specialises in studying photodermatoses, skin conditions triggered or made worse by sunlight, such as photoaggravated atopic dermatitis (PAD). We worked together with people affected by PAD on My Skin & Sunlight, a campaign to raise awareness of the condition and research.

Can you tell us a bit more about your research?

Much of my research is about studying changes that happen in the skin of people sensitive to sunlight to learn more about the cells and molecules that could be involved. Understanding more about how these conditions develop could lead to better treatments and improve patients’ lives.

We also know that many people with PAD experience negative effects on their mental and physical health. I’m interested in understanding the different ways that PAD and other photodermatoses impact patients and what matters most to them. This will help us to better support patients in managing their symptoms and ensure our research is relevant to their needs.

“Patients are a crucial part of my research – without them, it wouldn’t be possible!”

Why was it important for you to involve patients in raising awareness of PAD?

People with conditions like PAD experience a lower quality of life, which can impact all sorts of day to day activities.. However, there’s very limited awareness of the condition, which is why we embarked on the My Skin & Sunlight campaign. It was important for me to involve people affected by PAD because they’re the ones directly impacted by it. They shared what issues they felt were most important to them and shaped what they’d want other people to know about the condition. This led to the co-production of creative content that they felt reflected their experiences and that encourages curiosity about PAD.

What are your reflections on being part of My Skin & Sunlight?

It has been such a privilege to hear more about people’s experiences. I think that we all found the creative approach of the workshops valuable and stimulating, and it was really important that everyone felt listened to and understood. Several participants commented that it was the first time they had spent time talking with people in a similar position to themselves.

This project has really been able to focus on the impact the condition has on people’s lives, and it was enlightening to hear patients describe their experiences and what most matters to them. For example, things that other people take for granted, like spending time outdoors, popping to the shops, planning holidays, or choosing clothes are so much harder for patients with PAD. The key roles of the participants in defining and shaping the creative content have been a crucial part of the project, and really bring the campaign to life.

I’ve also learned so much about how this kind of partnership approach can lead to much broader insights into the experiences of people with chronic health conditions.