Eczema

We use telemedicine technology to connect you with a U.S. licensed healthcare professional who can provide eczema treatment conveniently and inexpensively.

It starts with your online visit. Your doctor or nurse practitioner needs to know about your general health and how eczema affects you. They also need an unedited photo of you and of your ID (that shows your face and birthdate) so they know who they will be helping, as well as a photo of the affected area(s) to confirm the diagnosis. They review everything, determine if you’re a candidate for telemedicine and whether treatment is right for you, and if so , they will send you a personalized treatment plan.

The treatment plan will include a great deal of information about eczema. It is important that you take the time to read it all to be informed and better prepared to manage your condition.

If a prescription is appropriate, Ro-affiliated physicians may prescribe triamcinolone (0.1%) cream, a medium potency steroid cream. Steroid cream is effective for treating flare-ups and in certain cases may also be used to help prevent flare-ups, and is the recommended first-line treatment for eczema by the American Academy of Dermatology. Triamcinolone (0.1%) cream may not be appropriate for everyone. To learn more about side effects and contraindications, see “What are the side effects of eczema treatment” below and read Important Safety Information for triamcinolone cream.

At this time, we are only offering treatment for eczema if you have previously been diagnosed with eczema by a doctor or other healthcare provider.

Skin conditions may sometimes be difficult to definitively diagnose by telemedicine. At this time, we are only offering treatment for eczema if you have previously been diagnosed with eczema by a doctor or other healthcare provider.

Yes, triamcinolone cream may be used for prevention of flare-ups, if directed by your doctor. Long term steroid use may be associated with side effects, so it’s important to keep your doctor or nurse practitioner in the loop about the severity of your flare-ups so they can recommend the best treatment for you.

Steroid creams, including triamcinolone, are considered effective for both treatment of active eczema as well as prevention of flare-ups, and are recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology as first-line treatment based on large volumes of high quality studies*. Triamcinolone (0.1%) cream may not be appropriate for everyone. To learn more about side effects and contraindications, see “What are the side effects of eczema treatment” below and read Important Safety Information for triamcinolone cream.

*Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Berger TG, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 2. Management and treatment of atopic dermatitis with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;71(1):116-32.

Triamcinolone cream doesn’t contain a significant amount of moisturizer, so you should use a regular moisturizer in addition to triamcinolone cream. In general, it is important to moisturize your skin, especially in areas prone to flare-ups, as dry skin can make your eczema symptoms worse.

Triamcinolone cream can cause redness, dryness, itching, and/or irritation at the sites where it’s applied. These effects are usually mild, and can be helped by making sure the skin is properly moisturized. More serious side effects that can happen with prolonged use or if large amounts are used over large surface areas include thinning skin, stretch marks, or impaired wound healing. These can be avoided by only using the smallest amount of cream necessary for the shortest duration of time necessary (usually two weeks) to reduce your symptoms. If you have concerns about side effects or think you might be having side effects from your eczema treatment, you can reach out to your Ro-affiliated doctor at any time.

Steroid creams may cause skin thinning or permanent stretch marks if used in large amounts, over large surface areas, and/or for a long time continuously. The general principle for using steroid creams is that you should only use as much as is needed to improve your symptoms and only for as long as is necessary.

Most people experience relief of symptoms within a few days, and some even sooner. If you don’t feel that the eczema treatment is significantly improving your symptoms, reach out to your doctor or nurse practitioner anytime to talk about other options for treatment.