ABSTRACT
Atopicco Network for Children of the Earth differs from various other self-help groups for atopic dermatitis in that Tomomi Akagi and Jun Yoshizawa have made citizen activism their job, and they are able to make a living from it. Atopicco Network for Children of the Earth looks at atopic dermatitis from a very broad perspective that encompasses both environmental and societal issues, and their aim is not simply to find a cure for the disease. When confronting such a difficult disease, there is some possibility that the hope of a cure could improve a patient’s ability to heal, but there is also the danger of the patient becoming depressed if a cure never comes. In Japan, whether the stories are of patients receiving standard treatment or those receiving alternative medicine treatments, the majority ultimately show the patient regaining beautiful skin and being able to lead a happy lifestyle.
