family and friends from time to time, but it shouldn’t drastically affect your quality of life.
“…If you find yourself missing out on life activities, either in your work or personal life, because of your eczema symptoms, you should probably talk to your doctor about changing up your treatment,” Piliang adds.
5. Your health insurance status changes.
You and your doctor spent all this time trying different medications and as soon as you find one that works, your insurance status changes. What do you do? How do you know if your current medication is still covered?
“It can be really discouraging and frustrating,” Piliang tells Everyday Health. However, if you talk to your doctor, they can send a letter to your insurance company explaining that you’re being treated successfully with a certain type of medication — and hopefully, the coverage can continue, she says. “It takes a lot of work on your doctor’s part and on your part to get that to happen, but that’s something you can work on with your dermatologist,” she adds.
RELATED: Food as Medicine: 5 Foods That Reduce Eczema Symptoms
6. The side effects of your medication are bothering you.
Itching, stinging, and burning are all side effects you may experience as a result of your eczema medication.
Most medications come with side effects, however, if the side effects are too bothersome, or you don’t like how it feels on your skin, talk to your doctor about another option.
“Some of the ointments we use for eczema can be greasy; when you put it on, it gets all over your clothes and leave stains and so you don’t want to use it,” Piliang notes.
7. Your previously well-controlled symptoms are coming back, despite following your treatment.
What once worked for you may suddenly stop working due to no fault of your own.
“If your treatment stops working as well as it once did, that’s a time to come in,” Piliang notes.
Don’t let the guilt of something you can’t control stop you from getting the help you need.
She also advises against feeling guilty when they have a flare, and that may keep them away from checking in with their provider, she adds.