Preparing for Your First GP Visit for Eczema

If you think you may have eczema, or you have recently noticed changes in your skin that are not improving, booking an appointment with your GP is an important first step.

Preparing for your first GP visit for eczema can help you make the most of your appointment. It allows your GP to understand your symptoms more clearly and work with you to develop an appropriate management plan.

Eczema can look and feel different from person to person, and symptoms may change over time. Being organised before your appointment can help ensure you do not forget important details and allows your GP to build a more complete picture of what is happening with your skin.

Take photos of your skin during flare-ups

Eczema does not always look the same every day. By the time your appointment arrives, your skin may look different from how it appeared during a flare-up.

Taking clear photos when your skin is at its worst can be very helpful. Try to photograph the affected areas in good lighting and capture both close-up and wider images. Avoid using filters or editing the photos.

It may also help to record the date and note any symptoms you were experiencing, such as itching, pain, swelling, cracking or weeping.

These photos can help your GP understand how severe your symptoms can become and how your skin changes over time. They may also be useful if you are later referred to a dermatologist.

Keep a simple record of your symptoms

Before your appointment, write down when your symptoms first appeared and whether they have changed over time.

You may wish to record:

• Where the symptoms appear on your body

• How often you experience flare-ups

• How itchy, painful or uncomfortable your skin feels

• Whether scratching causes bleeding or broken skin

• Whether your symptoms affect your sleep, work, school or daily activities

• Anything you have noticed before a flare-up, such as heat, sweating, illness, stress or contact with a particular product

You do not need to keep a complicated diary. A few simple notes on your phone or in a notebook can make it easier to remember important details during your appointment.

Keep a record of products and treatments you have tried

Before your appointment, write down any skincare products or treatments you currently use or have recently tried.

This may include:

• Moisturisers

• Prescription or over-the-counter creams

• Body washes and bath products

• Soaps and hand washes

• Sunscreens

• Laundry detergents and fabric softeners

• Shampoos and haircare products

• Cleaning products

Where possible, bring the product packaging with you or take a photo of the product name and ingredient list.

Even if a product did not work, it is still useful information. Your GP can use this to guide future recommendations and avoid suggesting products that may not suit your skin.

It is also helpful to note how your skin responded. Did the product soothe your skin, make no noticeable difference, sting when applied or appear to make your symptoms worse?

List your medications and relevant health information

Make a list of any prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins or supplements you are currently taking, even if they seem unrelated to your skin.

This gives your GP a more complete overview of your health and helps ensure that any treatment recommendations are appropriate for you.

You should also tell your GP about other health conditions, particularly asthma, hay fever, allergies or previous skin conditions. These conditions can sometimes occur alongside eczema.

It may also be useful to mention whether eczema, asthma, hay fever or allergies run in your family.

Review your home, work or school environment

Your surroundings may contain irritants that aggravate sensitive skin, so it can be helpful to review any recent changes before your appointment.

Consider whether you have:

• Changed laundry detergent or fabric softener

• Started using a new soap, moisturiser or cosmetic product

• Introduced new cleaning sprays, air fresheners or fragranced products

• Begun wearing a new uniform, protective equipment or rough fabric

• Been frequently exposed to water, hand sanitiser or cleaning chemicals

• Noticed that heat, sweating, grass, pets or particular activities affect your skin

Even small changes can sometimes irritate eczema-prone skin. Where possible, consider using gentle, fragrance-free products that are suitable for sensitive skin.

Triggers and irritants vary between individuals, so keeping notes about what you have been exposed to can help your GP identify possible patterns.

Record any concerns about food carefully

Food is not an eczema trigger for everyone, and food allergy is rarely the cause of eczema.

However, certain foods may worsen symptoms in some people, particularly some children with a diagnosed food allergy.

If you have noticed a consistent reaction after eating a particular food, record:

• What was eaten

• How much was eaten

• How soon the symptoms appeared

• What symptoms occurred

• How long the symptoms lasted

• Whether the same reaction has happened more than once

Bring this information to your GP rather than removing the food from your diet yourself.

It is important not to remove major foods or food groups without medical advice, particularly from a baby’s or child’s diet. Unnecessary food restriction can affect nutrition and growth. Elimination diets should only be undertaken with guidance from an appropriately qualified doctor or dietitian.

Seek urgent medical assistance if eating a food causes breathing difficulties, swelling of the tongue or throat, collapse or other signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Write down your questions

GP appointments can feel rushed, and it is easy to forget what you wanted to ask. Taking a written list of questions can help ensure you cover everything that is important to you.

You may wish to ask:

• Could this be eczema or another skin condition?

• What type of eczema might I have?

• What skincare routine would you recommend?

• Which moisturiser should I use, and how often should I apply it?

• How and when should I use any prescribed treatments?

• What should I do when a flare-up begins?

• Are there signs of infection I should watch for?

• Should I avoid any particular products or activities?

• When should my treatment be reviewed?

• When might a referral to a dermatologist be needed?

Having your questions ready can help you leave the appointment feeling more informed and confident about your next steps.

Take an eczema care plan with you

A structured care plan can make eczema management easier, particularly when you are newly diagnosed or beginning a different treatment.

The Eczema Association of New Zealand offers a free Eczema Care Plan that you can download and take to your GP appointment.

The care plan provides a clear framework for discussing:

• Bathing and showering

• Moisturising

• Prescribed topical treatments

• Managing flare-ups

• Other medications

• Signs that further medical care may be needed

  
  

Your GP can work with you to tailor the plan to your individual needs, making it a practical guide that you can follow at home.

Keep the completed plan somewhere easy to access. You may also wish to provide a copy to anyone else involved in your or your child’s care.

When should you seek medical care sooner?

Do not wait for a routine appointment if your skin suddenly becomes significantly worse or you are concerned about an infection.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you notice:

• Increasing pain, warmth or swelling

• Yellow crusting, pus or significant weeping

• A rapidly spreading rash

• Areas of broken skin that are not healing

• Fever or feeling generally unwell

These symptoms may indicate a skin infection and should be assessed by a healthcare professional.

Making the most of your GP appointment

Preparing for your first GP visit for eczema does not need to be complicated. Bringing photos, symptom notes, product information, medication details and a list of questions can give your GP a more complete understanding of what you are experiencing.

Eczema management often involves finding the right combination of regular skincare, avoiding individual aggravating factors and using medical treatments when needed. It may take time to find the routine and treatment plan that work best for your skin.

Your first appointment is the beginning of that process, and you do not need to work everything out on your own.

At the Eczema Association of New Zealand, we are here to support you with trusted resources, practical guidance and a caring community. Download our free Eczema Care Plan, explore our eczema resources or contact our team for support as you prepare for your GP appointment.

This information is general in nature and does not replace personalised medical advice. Speak with your GP or another qualified healthcare professional about your individual symptoms and treatment needs.