Eczema Doc: Helpful App from Reputable Source

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a common, chronic skin condition seen primarily in children, but it also remains common in adults. In the U.S. alone, over 31 million people are affected with a prevalence of over 10% of the population. One in three children with eczema suffer from moderate to severe disease. Furthermore, the proportion of the population suffering from eczema appears to be increasing worldwide. Although there is no cure for eczema, it is treatable. Mild disease can be controlled with many OTC products and prescription medications including topical steroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and more severe disease with phototherapy and immunosuppressants/biologics.

Eczema Doc is a new medical app produced by Michael O'Brien and written by dermatologists at Long School of Medicine at UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio. The medical app is part of a medical study to see how many patients with eczema will use the app to help with the treatment of eczema. You can opt out of the study when you first open the app. The app provides basic information on the background of eczema, an overview of treatment options, recommended treatments, helpful websites, a quick reference section and references.

Eczema Doc is designed for patients and parents of children with eczema so the "evidence" isn't as emphasized in the text as apps for medical providers. However, the medical app has a section with references and the text contains the superscripts to the references. The app is written by dermatologists from a major medical center so it comes from a reputable source.

Price: Free

Likes:

• Great practical and evidence-based information for patients with eczema.
• Well-referenced and produced by a reputable source.
• Helpful images and instructions for patients and parents.

Dislikes:

• Illustrations not zoomable; somewhat small. No pictures.
• No hyperlinks for references to PubMed.
• Would be even better with more robust multimedia: videos of wet wraps for example; full color pictures of eczema lesions; prices on medications and OTC treatments; GPS locations for above.
• Not available for Android.

Overall

A simple but helpful app for patients with eczema and parents of children with eczema from a reliable source. Definitely would recommend that providers prescribe this app to these patient populations. This medical app could be more robust with even more details, illustrations, photos, videos, but perhaps that is planned for future updates. It is still a good place to start for many patients suffering from this skin condition.

Check out the full review of Eczema Doc on iMedicalApps.

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