How Do I Make My Eczema Treatment Decisions?

As a long-time eczema patient, it seems very overwhelming to me to navigate the many treatments in the market to manage my eczema. I like to think of my chronic issue as an ever-evolving adventure.

What role does my doctor play in my eczema care?

I am lucky to have a great relationship with my provider, with whom I can go to for advice and information to navigate my path. Depending on what is going on with my skin at the time, I will consult with and approach my provider about things that I hear about and whether I should use a particular treatment or not. My provider shares recommendations for prescription treatments as well as over-the-counter options.

I have found that some treatments that have worked well and other treatments have not. If I have an issue that needs immediate care, I take what my provider gives. If the treatment is not immediate, then I refer to a list of questions I have developed over time to help me navigate my care plan with my provider.

What do I look for when researching treatments?

Initially, besides the provider’s recommendation for some options, I still do my research. Some things I look at are:

1. Are there reviews? Are they favorable or unfavorable?
2. Are there side effects published?
3. What are the costs? Will insurance cover it?
4. Is it easy to obtain? Will I need to go through a pharmacy? Or a specialty pharmacy? Or retailer?
5. Also, I look online to learn more about it.

How do I work the new treatment into my routine?

Then once I acquire the item, I find out the appropriate regimen to consume/use it. I seek out the instructions and related support representatives if I have questions. Then I factor that new regimen in my schedule to follow it for a successful attempt. I then devote time and find a journal to note and log when I take the treatments so that I can document the results, side effects and my observations. This part particularly helps me so that I can recall specific details and can provide clear information to my provider after some time to share for follow up consultations.

How do I regularly assess my treatments?

As a result of the first two steps, I work with my provider to reassess and confer over the results and outcome of how the treatment worked for me or not. This then leads me to ask additional questions for my physical and emotional experience to share with my provider:

1. How did it go? What were the results? Did the treatment minimize my active symptoms? Or not?
2. Was it easy? Or difficult?
3. Were there any side effects?
4. Would this be something that I would consider trying again? Or stop using for a while? Or stop completely?

How has this process helped me?

Overall, I have found that this process of asking questions over two phases has really helped and empowered me to look objectively at what is available for my care. In the past few years, I have noticed many more options in the marketplace. Navigating and dealing with eczema is quite an adventure, as I had previously mentioned.

So, as I share my thoughts about my path, what helps you manage your own eczema adventure? What works for you?