A visit about eczema can feel short. There is a lot to cover, including how your skin has been, what you have tried, how your daily life is affected and what to do next. Preparing ahead can help you and your healthcare provider use that time well. This article covers who may be part of your care team, how to set treatment goals and questions to ask about eczema treatment.
Who may be part of your eczema care team
Eczema care often involves more than one person, and the right mix depends on your needs. The National Eczema Association’s Eczema Provider Finder lists several kinds of healthcare professionals, including:
- Primary care providers and pediatricians, who may notice changes in your health early and can help coordinate your care.
- Dermatologists and pediatric dermatologists, who specialize in skin conditions and can confirm a diagnosis and review treatment options.
- Allergists and immunologists, who may help when eczema occurs alongside allergies or asthma, or when triggers need a closer look.
- Mental health professionals, who can support stress, sleep and emotional well-being while living with a chronic condition.
You are part of the team, too. Your healthcare provider brings clinical training. You bring day-to-day knowledge of your skin, your routines and what matters most to you.
Before your visit
A little preparation can make the conversation more productive. NEA’s seven-step guide to preparing for your eczema appointment suggests getting these things ready:
- A short history of your eczema, including where symptoms show up and whether anything has changed in the past six to 12 months
- A list of current and past medications and supplements, with what helped, what did not and any side effects
- Past lab and biopsy results, which can save time and help avoid repeat tests
- Recent photos of your skin, especially if it looks different on the day of your visit
- Your top three goals for the visit
- Questions you want answered, written down in advance
- A note on whether your current treatments are working and which options you want to learn more about
The guide also includes printable discussion tools and treatment overviews you can bring with you.
Setting treatment goals together
Eczema has no cure, so treatment goals often focus on managing symptoms and preventing flares. What that means is personal. One person may want to sleep through the night. Another may want to spend less time on skin care each day, or to return to a hobby that flares have interrupted.
Write your goals down before your visit and share them at the start. Then ask your healthcare provider how you will both know whether the plan is working and when to check in. Goals can change as your symptoms, treatments and life change, so it is reasonable to revisit them at follow-up visits.
If your goals feel out of reach, our article on recognizing when eczema may require additional support can help you decide what to raise at your visit.
Questions to ask your healthcare provider
Use these as a starting point and add your own. Bring them in writing so nothing gets lost during the visit.
About your diagnosis and goals
- What type of eczema do I have, and what may be contributing to my symptoms?
- Based on my goals, what should we focus on first?
About treatment options
- What treatment options may fit my situation, and how do they differ?
- How does this treatment work, and how do I use it?
- What changes should I expect, and when might I notice them?
- What side effects should I watch for, and what should I do if they happen?
About next steps
- How will we know if this plan is working?
- What should I do if my symptoms do not improve or get worse?
- When should I come back, and how can I reach your office between visits?
- What will this cost, and what does my insurance cover? NEA’s guide to health insurance for eczema can help you prepare for this part of the conversation.
It is OK to speak up
If something about a plan does not feel right, you can say so. Asking questions, sharing concerns or asking about a second opinion are all reasonable parts of a care conversation.
After your visit
Take a few minutes to write down what you discussed while it is fresh. Note the plan, any changes to your routine, what to watch for and when your next visit is. If something is unclear or the plan is not working as you hoped, contact your healthcare provider’s office rather than waiting for the next appointment.
Where to find support
- Eczema Provider Finder: search for healthcare professionals with eczema experience, including dermatology, allergy and immunology, and mental health.
- How to Prepare for Your Eczema Appointment: a seven-step guide with printable tools.
- Eczema Treatments: an overview of treatment categories, from bathing and moisturizing to prescription options.
- S’more Time with the Doc: A Difference in Opinion: a video on speaking up in the exam room.
Walking into a visit prepared does not mean you need to have every answer. It means you and your healthcare provider can start from the same place and decide the next steps together.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your care.
This article was funded in part by Sanofi and Regeneron.
