Getting the most from your child’s dermatology appointment

After months of battling the healthcare system, at last, you’ve got a dermatology appointment to see a consultant about your child’s eczema. Finally, you can talk to a dermatology consultant who really knows about the complexities of skin and allergies and will be able to help your little one. You’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But new patient appointments are terrifyingly short, just 15 minutes in some areas. So how do you make the most of the limited time?

The ScratchSleeves team have been talking to the dermatology consultants at our local hospital to find out what information they need to make your appointment as effective as possible. 

Things to do before you go

1. Identify any obvious triggers for your little one’s eczema – we’ve put together a checklist of the most common triggers and their common manifestations to get you started. Don’t worry if none of these seems to apply – that information is just as useful. It might also help to keep a diary in the weeks leading up to the dermatology appointment so that you can identify any patterns. There are a number of apps which can help with this, but paper notes are often easier to manage in an appointment.
2. Write down a list of questions that you want to ask – there’s nothing worse than getting 5 minutes down the road and realising that you didn’t get an answer to a burning question that you meant to ask. Start the list a few days before the appointment and add to it as things occur to you. Just going through your normal routine is bound to make you think of things that you’d like to ask.
3. The consultant is going to need to see your child’s skin, especially the really sore parts. Plan ahead and dress your child in something that is easy to take off and put back on so you don’t waste precious time wrestling with awkward clothing.

Things to take with you

1. All the creams that your little one has been using. While a list is helpful, there are multiple versions (often up to 20) of most of the popular creams, so it really speeds things up if the consultant can see exactly what you have been using. If you are really short of space, photos of the containers are a good substitute but do make sure that you include all the information in the pictures and that it’s legible. It’s also useful to take the creams which haven’t worked.
2. A note of how long it takes to use up each cream – this gives the consultant an idea of how much of each cream you have been using.

Questions you might be asked

1. What was it that pushed you to go to the GP and ask for a dermatology consultant appointment? What was the one thing that was too much for you to cope with? This gives the consultant a feeling for what they need to focus on first.
2. What do you think makes things worse? This is where your preparation will pay dividends. You are looking after your child 24/7, the consultant will see them for just a few minutes every few weeks or even months – so you are the consultant’s eyes and ears for the vast majority of the time.
3. What impact does your child’s eczema have on everyday life – both their’s and the family’s. Again, this gives the dermatology consultant a guide for how they can have the most positive impact.

Common eczema triggers

Do these common triggers affect your child’s skin?

1. Getting too hot (and sweat)
2. Changes in the weather – especially autumn when the central heating comes on and dries the inside air
3. Toiletries – SLS, MCI and parabens are common culprits but there are plenty of other potential irritants
4. Laundry detergents – typically don’t affect the nappy area as disposable nappies and nappy liners aren’t exposed to detergents.
5. Animals – if you don’t have furry pets at home, does your child’s skin get worse when they visit homes with pets
6. Food – milk, eggs and tomatoes are the most common food triggers for eczema
7. House dust mites – is your child better in places without textile furnishings (places with hard floors and leather sofas)
8. Stress
9. Fabrics – some fabrics including wool and nylon can aggravate eczema
10. Other cleaning products – residues of bathroom cleaners
11. Teething

Here at ScratchSleeves, we don’t just share our experiences of bringing up an eczema child and favourite allergy-friendly recipes, we also manufacture and sell our unique stay-on scratch mitts and PJs for itchy babies, toddlers and children. We now stock sizes from 0-adult years in a range of colours. Visit our webshop to see our range of eczema friendly clothing for babies, children and adults.