By Angelika Thew, CEO, Eczema Association Australia & New Zealand
You look at your child’s skin and notice a red, itchy patch that seems to be bothering them more than usual. Maybe they are rubbing at their cheek, scratching behind their knee, waking through the night or becoming unsettled because their skin feels uncomfortable. It can be hard to know whether it is just dry skin, a passing rash or the beginning of something more ongoing. For many parents, this is where the eczema journey begins: with concern, questions and the need for trusted medical advice.
When your child is itchy or uncomfortable, it is natural to want answers quickly. You may find yourself searching online, asking friends what worked for their children or standing in a pharmacy aisle feeling unsure about what your child needs.
The most important first step is always to seek medical advice. If you think your child may have eczema or if their skin is itchy, inflamed, sore, broken, persistent or causing concern, making an appointment with your family doctor is always the best place to start. Your GP can assess your child’s skin, ask questions about their symptoms and general health and help guide the next steps.
At the Eczema Association, we speak with many parents and carers at this very point. Some are waiting for their first GP appointment. Some have just received a diagnosis. Others have been managing their child’s eczema for a while and are wondering whether it is time to ask for a referral to a dermatologist. What many families have in common is the desire to feel prepared, supported and clear about what to ask next.
Preparing for an appointment can make a real difference. Eczema can change from day to day and sometimes, your child’s skin may look calmer at the appointment than it did the night before. Taking photos during a flare can help your doctor see what you are seeing at home. These photos do not need to be perfect. They simply provide a visual record of how your child’s skin looks when it is at its worst.
It can also help to write down when the symptoms started, where they appear on the body, how often they occur and whether the itch seems worse at certain times. Some children scratch more at night, while others may become irritated after bathing, being outdoors, wearing certain clothing or during changes in weather. You do not need to work out the cause before seeing the doctor. Your role is to share what you have noticed so your healthcare professional can better understand what may be happening.
Before the appointment, it may also be useful to make a simple list of the products currently being used on your child’s skin and in your home. This might include moisturisers, sunscreens, laundry detergents, wipes, bath products and any creams or ointments you have tried. Many families try different products before they seek medical advice and there is no shame in that. Parents do this because they are trying to help their child feel more comfortable.
It is also important to think about how eczema is affecting your child beyond what can be seen on the skin. Is your child waking overnight? Are they scratching until the skin becomes sore or broken? Are they uncomfortable getting dressed? Are they avoiding swimming, sport, daycare, play or school because of their skin? Is that making you feel anxious, exhausted or unsure about what to do next? These details matter because eczema can affect sleep, mood, confidence, family routines and quality of life.
Many parents find it useful to write down their questions before the appointment. When you are sitting in front of the doctor, especially if your child is upset, tired or wriggly, it can be easy to forget what you wanted to ask. You might want to ask whether your child’s skin looks like eczema, what signs you should watch for, when you should come back for review, whether you need a written plan, what to do if symptoms change or whether a referral to a dermatologist may be needed.
No question is silly when it comes to understanding your child’s health. It is also okay to ask your doctor to explain things in plain language. Medical appointments can move quickly and parents may leave feeling like they have only absorbed part of what was said. If you are unsure, ask the doctor to repeat the information, write down the key points or explain what the next step is.
For some children, ongoing care with a GP may be enough. For others, there may come a point where specialist support is needed. A dermatologist is a specialist doctor with expertise in skin conditions, and a referral may be recommended if your child’s eczema is severe, persistent, difficult to manage, regularly disrupting sleep, causing significant distress or not improving as expected.
Preparing for a dermatologist appointment is similar to preparing for a GP appointment. Bring photos of flare ups, a list of products used, any previous advice or written plans, details of anything that has been prescribed or recommended and notes about what has or has not helped. If sleep is the biggest issue, say that clearly. If you are worried about infection, pain, school attendance, emotional distress or frequent flares, make sure that is included too.
Parents often minimise how difficult things have become because they are so used to coping. But your healthcare team can only respond to the information they are given, so it is important to be honest about the impact eczema is having. If your child is waking every night, say that. If you are feeling overwhelmed, say that too. These are important parts of the picture.
Between appointments, families can be left with many questions. You may come home from the GP and remember something you forgot to ask. You may be waiting for a dermatologist appointment and feel unsure how to prepare. You may have been given information but still feel overwhelmed. You may simply need reassurance that support is available and that you are not expected to manage everything on your own.
This is where the Eczema Association can help. As a patient support organisation, we do not replace the advice of your doctor, dermatologist or pharmacist, and we do not provide medical treatment plans. What we can offer is support, information and guidance to help families feel more confident in the steps they are taking. Our team can help answer simple questions, point you toward trusted resources, help you prepare for appointments and support you in understanding what you may wish to ask your healthcare professional.
The Eczema Association has free resources available on our website to help families better understand eczema and feel more prepared. These resources are designed to be practical, supportive and easy to access. When you are overwhelmed, having reliable information in one place can be a great comfort.
Most of all, please know that you are not alone. Many families are walking a similar path. Many parents have sat awake at night worrying about their child’s skin, feeling confused by different advice or unsure what questions to ask. Support is available and you do not have to carry it all by yourself.
If your child is experiencing symptoms of eczema or you are concerned about their skin, please always seek advice from your GP or healthcare professional. If you need support between appointments, or you are looking for free resources to help you prepare for your next conversation with your doctor or dermatologist, the Eczema Association is here to help.
Phone support is also available through the Eczema Association team for families who would like help finding resources, preparing for appointments or understanding their next steps.
The Eczema Association is here for that moment when you think, “I just need someone to explain this clearly and tell me what to do next”.
Eczema can be tough, but you do not have to do it alone. You can also visit our websites for plenty of downloadable resources, and we also offer low-cost annual memberships with access to even more practical information and tools. If you contact us by phone or email for support and guidance, please know these conversations are treated as confidential.
Angelika Thew is the CEO of the Eczema Association, a patient support organisation helping families living with eczema across Australia, New Zealand and around the world. The team is committed to providing trusted, evidence-based and easy-to-understand information so parents and carers can feel informed, confident and supported through every stage of the eczema journey.
Contact the Eczema Association
For Australia, visit eczema.org.au or call 1300 300 182
For New Zealand, visit eczema.org.nz or call 0800 300 182.
