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Top Irish TikTok stars have accepted a challenge to live with their hands bandaged up to raise awareness of the incredibly painful skin disease EB.
EB causes the skin to blister at the slightest touch and the only treatment is painful bandaging to prevent infection.
The influencers from Ireland’s TikTok house, the Go House were asked to experience life as a person with the condition to kick-start EB Awareness week (Oct 25-31).
The influencers – Thomas Arnold, Nia Gallagher, Lauren Whelan, Jake Browne, Andrea Camila, Lewis Kelly and Ryan Mar – heard first-hand about living with EB from Co Laois woman, Emma Fogarty, 36.
Influencer and Go House founder, Thomas Arnold, revealed that the social media stars were shocked to learn of Emma’s life and the condition.
“They had never heard of EB before and they couldn’t fathom how much pain Emma goes through on a daily basis,” he said.
“When their hands were bandaged up, their inability to do everyday tasks really made them take stock and be grateful for what they have.
“As part of the challenge, they had to do everyday tasks like making a sandwich or applying make-up, which are extremely difficult with bandaged hands – to say nothing of the pain the people with EB have to endure.”
The initiative is being run in conjunction with Debra Ireland, the national charity which provides day-to-day help and support for EB patients and their families and also funds research programmes to find better treatments and possible cures. This week (Oct 25-31) is National EB Awareness Week and the charity is asking the public to get involved by raising awareness and being EB Aware.