Diagnosis
Diagnosing Eczema
If you have an itchy rash that looks red and scaly, you should see your doctor because you may have eczema (atopic dermatitis). The first step, of course, is to make an appointment to see a doctor.
Once you're in the doctor's office, he or she will probably:
- Examine the overall condition of your skin and the appearance of the rash
- Ask specific questions about what the rash looked like when it first appeared and how long you've had it
- Ask what the rash feels like, i.e. is it itchy or sore? Both?
- Ask about the circumstances under which the rash appeared, i.e. were you spending a lot of time in a very dry environment?
- Ask about any known or suspected allergies
- Ask you about your personal medical history
You may receive a patch test to rule out allergic contact dermatitis, which is a form of eczema caused by an allergic reaction to something that has touched your skin.
What You Can Do to Help
To save time and to help you make the most of your visit to your doctor, take the time to make a list of any questions or insights you may have about your rash. Bring this list with you to your appointment.
Some things you may want to think about and mention include:
- Whether or not you've had this rash before, i.e. when you were a child
- Whether or not you noticed anything that might be contributing to the flare-up
- Stress levels
- Any allergies, including foods
- Any medications you're taking or have taken recently
- Family history of allergies and other ailments
- Any other products you've been using on your skin