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- What is eczema?
- Symptoms of eczema
- Causes of eczema
- Prevention of eczema
- Risk factors for eczema
- Complications of eczema
- When to see a doctor about eczema
- Diagnosis of eczema
- Conventional treatment of eczema
- Alternative/complementary treatment of eczema
- Living with eczema
- Caring for someone with eczema
Initial diagnosis of eczema is through the following tests:
- Medical history of symptoms - the doctor will take notes on the duration and severity of symptoms. The doctor will also ask a series of questions about your personal history and your family history of conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma and eczema. The doctor may also ask questions about your exposure to environmental chemicals, cleaning and laundry products and other factors, to determine if this rash is due to an irritant or an allergen, as this is important in a determining treatment plan
- Physical examination - the doctor will review all the areas of the rash on the skin to determine if it is eczema or if the symptoms present another condition
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If the doctor suspects that an allergen may be the cause of the eczema, the following test may also be requested:
- Allergy ('skin prick') test - this involves pricking the forearm with a very small needle and allowing some of the allergen into the skin. This is done many times with various allergens that the allergy specialist uses (including dust and pet hair brought from home) to determine if an allergy exists to a particular substance. Usually, if an allergy to the substance occurs, it will cause the skin pricked to form a welt, rash or lump. The allergy specialist (or immunologist) will have taken note of each substance used to enable determination of the substances that cause the allergic response
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< 7: when to see a doctor 9: conventional treatment > Last reviewed: 10 November 2007 || Last updated: 3 January 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
