EczemaWise and Tracking Your Skin

It is extremely difficult trying to understand our flares and triggers. Like Sherlock Holmes, we must navigate through any clues left behind. But, how do we track these clues?

What is EczemaWise?

The National Eczema Association, or NEA, devised an application where patients can log their everyday activities in order to track their health. Pretty nifty. It's a one-stop-shop, a place to keep it all. You can even use it as an aid when visiting your practitioner or dermatologist, old or new.

What does it track?

You'd be surprised! There are a plethora of things that can trigger you or throw your skin health off-balance, perhaps things you didn't even realize. Also, every day is a new log and clean slate. This is how you can tell if certain aspects of your routine are causing issues.

Let's dive in!

Skin

Of course, first and foremost, you are able to track your skin. You are able to...

• Specify each affected body area, daily
• Add a picture to help reference, especially for a doctor
• Scale the intensity of your symptoms, 0 - 3 (3 being extreme)
• Log if you are dealing with a specific skin infection

Itch

This is one of the most complained about symptoms we face as atopic dermatitis sufferers. It can be debilitating at worst and annoying at best. Using EczemaWise, you can scale your itch level from 1-10 each day, with 10 being the extreme.

Pain, stress, and sleep

Much like the itch element, you have three more categories that scale from 1-10 each day in intensity. You can track your pain, which tends to vary each day. You can track your stress, which most certainly affects us emotionally and can, in turn, ignite a cascading itch fest or flare. And you can track your sleep. Personally, if I do not have the eight hours of recommended sleep each night, I know my skin will pay the price.

Treatment

Everyone is on a different healing journey, including our treatment regimen. In this section, you are able to add what you use in the morning, afternoon, evening, and before bed. Plus, there is a section for extra notes in case something needs better explaining.

Treatments, additionally, do not just signify topicals. There are many other options to include, such as...

• Phototherapy
• Systemics (oral pills)
• Biologics (like Dupixent)
• Over the counter (things bought without a prescription)
• Other (like vitamins)

Triggers

Now, some of us are very aware of certain things that trigger us. Many atopic dermatitis patients carry an assortment of allergies that can't always be avoided. EczemaWise has got you covered in keeping track of these certain triggers and if you come into contact with them. Their categories include...

• Metals (like nickel and gold)
• Chemicals (like bacitracin, formaldehyde, and lanolin)
• Irritants (like latex and fabrics)
• Environmental Allergens (like pet dander and pollen)
• Other (like foods and sun exposure)

Diet

It's not always what is happening on the outside of the body, but the inside as well. Nutrition can be the make or break for our worsening eczema.

However, this is my least favorite portion of their app (no one is perfect, right?). It allows you to select the types of food you ate throughout the day, but no specifics. I know it would be much more insightful to know exact meal times, portions, and individual meals rather than a small checklist. It also allows you to track your water intake per day. Staying hydrated is a must!

Weather conditions

Last but not least is a handy section where it tells us our weather forecast for the day. Just type in your zip code, and you're on your way. From humidity to mold, it will tell you what to expect.

How it can help

If you want to use this as a guide and tool for your doctor, make sure to keep a daily log for at least a month. Be diligent! There is a button at the bottom of the screen that says "Learn." There, you can see how each tracker category can be interwoven and connected to your optimal health. Print it out and show it to your doctor. This can be such a game-changer for many who simply are stuck in their search for relief.

Where do I get the app?

Easy! It is free to download in your phone's App Store. Just install and boom, your tenacious logging awaits!