Waiting For A Dermatologist? 5 Tips To Manage Eczema At Home

 

The day has come - your doctor has FINALLY referred you to a dermatologist after 6 months of umming and ahhing. 

Thanks for making me wait, doc. 

I mean, it’s JUST eczema, right? So you chill, take your time. Wait another week! 

Sure you could have gone private and been seen pronto, but unless you have a lump of cash stashed under your mattress, that isn’t always a viable option. 

And even when you make it to the dermatologist, sometimes the best suggestion they can make is steroid cream. But what if you’ve tried steroids before and aren’t willing to try again? 

It’s enough to leave you feeling exhausted. We see ya! 

So although we would never recommend against seeing a dermatologist - there are some fantastic ones out there that can provide real help and change people’s lives - we do still have a few bones to pick. 

Our biggest problem is with the time it takes to get your foot in the door in the first place, and how sometimes you’re just left to fend for yourself in between. That doesn’t seem fair and steroids, for us, aren’t a long term solution that can be relied upon. 

So in this article, you’ll find:

1) What is a dermatologist?

2) How they can help

3) 5 top tips for managing in between (or if you never make it to see one in the first place) 

What is a dermatologist? 

A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the treatment of skin conditions and diseases through training and medical specialisation, or residency. 

It takes more than 10 years to successfully train in the field and they are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions of the skin, hair and nails. 

How they can help 

With the vast amount of knowledge they build up over years of training, dermatologists can provide direct and actionable advice for people suffering with eczema. 

Sometimes it’s just steroid cream - which can for some be frustrating. You may have tried this technique in the past and been left exhausted as your eczema flared up again as soon as you stopped using it. 

You may have even struggled with topical steroid withdrawal - a debilitating side effect that can arise from the use of hydrocortisone. 

Or you may have had a better experience where they really took you seriously and suggested alternative methods - things like patch tests or elimination diets. 

Either way - it’s the time it takes to see one and the inconsistency in advice that can be so hard to take. 

So how do we cope in between? With our actionable steps below, hopefully :) 

Tip #1

Stop the itch and give your skin time to heal

We know how damaging the itch-scratch cycle can become. A downward spiral that can seem impossible to escape from and leave you both physically and emotionally drained. 

That’s why, as luck would have it, we produced our very own calming spray to combat this exact symptom. 

Enriched with a blend of 3 traditional Chinese herbs trusted for 1000’s of years in Asian medicine, our plant-based formula has been specifically designed to combat the symptoms of allergy-prone skin. 

Anti-inflammatory by nature and effective at repairing and enhancing a broken skin barrier, it’s also steroid and paraben free :) 

Tip #2

Identifying and avoiding triggers 

Maybe the most important part of understanding how to manage your eczema. Seriously, this CANNOT be overstated. 

Knowing what sets off your skin, whether that’s dust, dairy or dogs, is vital to controlling and hopefully stopping your next flare up. 

A good way to start at home is an elimination diet, before then moving onto an allergy test if you have the time/money. 

Tip #3

Meditation and mindfulness 

We’re big on this here at yan-yee. 

From personal experience we can PROMISE that stress plays a prominent role in triggering flare ups. 

We know it can be so hard to just get 5 minutes to yourself sometimes and like, what even is mindfulness?! But stick with us - our social feeds are a great place to start if you’re feeling lost (as is downloading the app Headspace).

Tip #4

Regular and daily moisturising 

When you suffer from eczema, we know you have a damaged skin barrier. This makes your skin more sensitive to irritants and allergens, as well as giving you less of an ability to retain moisture. 

So what’s the answer? Moisturise, moisturise, MOISTURISE! 

Like seriously, you should be slapping on the stuff all day long - especially in winter. 

Just out of the shower? Don’t be admiring yourself in the mirror now, grab that lotion bottle (ideally within the first 2 minutes). It’s one of the most important things you can do. 

Tip #5

Be consistent and keep positive! 

We know - eczema ain’t easy. 

It’s a never ending battle but you have to remain consistent. So the advice above? Keep doing it. Everyday. Until you’re sick of the sight of your moisturiser tube. 

And most of all - keep positive! Laughter is the best medicine, after all. 

Final word

The world of dermatologists can be a difficult one. 

If you do manage to get an appointment - great. Soak up the advice and hope for the best. But for in between, follow our advice above and hopefully you’ll have some success. 

What have we missed? Jump over to our Twitter page and let us know! 

With care,

The yan-yee team

Sources 

- What is a dermatologist? (n.d.). Link

- Controlling eczema by moisturising. (n.d.). Link

- Atopic Eczema. (2019). Link