Doctors and Healthcare Providers Who Can Help You Manage Your Eczema

If you have eczema or atopic dermatitis, you’ve probably mostly been managing the condition on your own by avoiding triggers and finding ways, by trial and error, to ease itchy, inflamed skin.

You don’t have to go it alone, though. Treating eczema and atopic dermatitis and preventing flare-ups can be confusing and overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to find doctors and healthcare providers who can answer your questions, offer recommendations for avoiding triggers and easing symptoms, and prescribe treatments if needed.

Fortunately, there are many experts out there who can do just that. Here’s who they are and how they can help.

Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis: Symptoms and Causes

Eczema and atopic dermatitis may seem like two different names for the same condition — and indeed, the terms are often used interchangeably — but there are differences. Atopic dermatitis is a type of eczema, which refers to a group of inflammatory skin conditions that count discolored, itchy skin as a symptom, according to the National Eczema Association (NEA).

There are several types of eczema, but atopic dermatitis is the most common, per the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin condition that usually starts in childhood and often runs in families, says Samer Jaber, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who founded Washington Square Dermatology in New York City. Some kids outgrow their atopic dermatitis as they get older, but others continue to have symptoms into adulthood, notes the NEA. Atopic dermatitis is especially common in people with allergies and hay fever.

Itchy skin is the hallmark symptom of atopic dermatitis, and rashes and dry skin are common, says the NEA. When the itch is scratched, rashes can ooze and bleed, which can lead to infection. While atopic dermatitis can’t be cured, there are many doctors and healthcare providers who can help you manage your symptoms.

Building Your Eczema Care Team

Since eczema and atopic dermatitis are skin conditions, it makes sense that any care team would include a dermatologist. Your dermatologist may also refer you to other specialists, if needed, or work alongside other doctors and healthcare providers to help you manage your symptoms.

“Allergists, primary care physicians, and pediatricians often coordinate care with dermatologists in the treatment of atopic dermatitis,” says Lauren Ploch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Augusta, Georgia. Here are a few experts you may want to recruit to your healthcare team.

• Dermatologist As a doctor who specializes in conditions that affect the skin, hair, and nails, a dermatologist can help you develop a skin-care plan to prevent flares and reduce symptoms when they do appear, according to the AAD. This plan may include recommendations for skin-care and household products that are eczema friendly, prescription or over-the-counter treatments for severe eczema and atopic dermatitis, and tips for avoiding triggers.
• Pediatric dermatologist Eczema and atopic dermatitis are common in babies and children (about 13 percent of all children in the United States have atopic dermatitis, according to the NEA). If your child has eczema or atopic dermatitis, you can start by talking with their pediatrician about how to manage symptoms, but you may be referred to a pediatric dermatologist, who specializes in skin conditions in children.
• Psychodermatologist A psychodermatologist is a doctor who focuses on the interaction between the mind and skin. They can help treat not only the eczema itself, but also the mental health conditions that can accompany skin diseases, such as anxiety or depression.
• Allergist An allergist is trained to treat inflammatory skin conditions, such as eczema and atopic dermatitis, which are often tied to allergies, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Your allergist can help you identify possible irritants to avoid and recommend effective treatments to find relief from symptoms.

You can also locate a specialist through the following organizations:

• American Academy of Dermatology Association
• American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• National Eczema Association
• Association for Psychoneurocutaneous Medicine of North America