Pediatrician or dermatologist for excema and other rashes?

[Anonymous]

DS had bad excema as a toddler and the ped referred us to a dermatologist, who recommended the same thing as the ped -- cereve, cortisone for bad spots, antibacterial cream for broken skin. It eventually got better.

DS is now 15 and it's come roaring back. It's especially bad after he's spent a month at camp, where he spent most of his time in the lake (although he says he changed into dry clothes when he got out). Is it worth going back to the doctor, or just restarting the protocol from when he was a toddler?

[Anonymous]

Where are you located?

[Anonymous]

I say go for it. I have gone to the derm for eczema for my now 8yo (he was 4 or 5 when it started).

My own kid did not have to do anything prescription. But if you think an rx is needed, then yes.

Things the derm recommended instead
-limited baths or washcloth baths for pits etc
-vanicream lotion (we had used cerave which stung his eczema. I thought it is “clean” but vanicream is just a little cleaner and has never stung)
-eucerin eczema body wash (this is his/my favorite. I feel like it helps SO much)
-don’t really towel off to dry. Towels on the ground to avoid puddling, but more air dry or a light pat


I bet you know all this OP!! But this was the info from our first visit, and we never needed to return beyond a checkup. Never had to go to prescriptions.

[Anonymous]

Allergist was most knowledgeable for us. Derm provided no new insight.

[Anonymous]

Dermatologist.

[Anonymous]

Why don’t people search for the cause?
Just trying to treat endless symptoms is silly.

Don’t you think maybe his camp food was lower quality than at home?