Eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo, rare diseases… Behind these visible pathologies, often minimized, lies a serious intimate and social reality. By tackling the cultural and organizational obstacles in the sporting world, the French Sports for All Federation, the French Skin Federation and the biotech company Incyte are betting on inclusion through adaptation, rather than through individual effort.
When sport, supposed to bring people together, becomes a silent ordeal
Sport is unanimously recognized for its benefits on physical and mental health, particularly among young people. But for millions of people living with a skin condition, it can also become a place of tension, even avoidance. Dreaded changing rooms, insistent glances, awkward remarks or persistent preconceived ideas: so many micro-aggressions which, accumulated, end up lastingly alienating people from the field.
In addition to these social obstacles, there are very real physical constraints, still largely unknown in the sporting world. Sweating can cause burns in people with eczema; friction aggravates certain forms of vitiligo; psoriasis can be accompanied by joint pain; UV exposure becomes problematic in cases of albinism; Verneuil’s disease can make certain movements extremely painful.
So many concrete situations which remind us of something too often forgotten: not all skin diseases are seen in the same way, are not experienced in the same way, and require specific adaptations. In the absence of appropriate responses, many prefer to isolate themselves or turn to individual practices, far from the collective spirit that sport is supposed to embody.
Change the setting rather than asking patients to adapt
Faced with this observation, an unprecedented partnership is emerging, at the intersection of sport, health and inclusion. Supported by the French Sports for All Federation, the French Skin Federation and Incyte, a biotech company involved in particular in dermatology, this initiative is based on a strong conviction: it is not up to sick people to justify themselves or to overadapt, but to sporting environments to evolve.
Deployed on a national scale, the system is structured around three complementary axes. First, the training of sports facilitatorsin order to better understand so-called “displaying” skin diseases, to deconstruct preconceived ideas and to propose, when necessary, simple and concrete adaptations of practice. Then, theidentification and promotion of voluntary clubscommitted to a caring and inclusive welcome approach. Finally,
awareness actions intended for the general public and young people, to change perspectives and fight lasting stigmatization.
For the people concerned, the issue is essential: being able to walk through the door of a club without having to explain, justify or anticipate the judgment. To be welcomed as a full-fledged, legitimate practitioner, without having to carry the additional weight of their illness.
Returning sport to its primary function: connecting, supporting, including
“This partnership is perfectly in line with the values held by the Federation. Indeed, one of our missions is to make sport more inclusive. In this context, integrating a health network allows us to respond to this commitment and establish our expertise in sports, health and well-being among the most vulnerable populations.underlines Betty Charlier, president of the French Sports for All Federation.
An observation shared by the French Skin Federation, which recalls how the impact of dermatological diseases goes far beyond the medical framework. “For many people with skin diseases, sport is not just a physical effort: it is a “global” event, both social and medical. The gaze of others, stigmatization, or lack of awareness of their constraints can generate stress, promote isolation and, in certain cases, contribute to the worsening of symptoms or flare-ups.”explains its president, Stéphanie Merhand. Before adding: “However, staying in motion is essential, both for the body and for the morale. This unique partnership aims to break down barriers (…) so that, finally, sport once again becomes a collective, caring space accessible to all, without judgment or permanent justification.”
On Incyte’s side, the commitment is intended to be consistent with a broader vision of health. “At Incyte, we believe that health is about more than treatment. It also plays a role in everyone’s ability to participate fully in social life, to feel in their place and to stay moving.”says Aurélie Lescarret, deputy general director of Incyte France. “We choose to dare and lead the way on essential issues of inclusion and mental health.”
Beyond this partnership, a broader reflection opens up on the place of sport in the life course of people living with a visible chronic illness. Make the movement a lever of confidence rather than a factor of exclusion. Restore sport to its primary vocation: to be a space of connection, health and shared humanity.