Dermatology toolkit

Information and support for patients and carers

Many skin conditions are long term and require high levels of self-care and monitoring. The following resources can be used to support patients in understanding their skin condition, as well as signposting them to peer support groups.

A. Skin cancer detection and protecting skin damage (sunburn) from the sun’s Ultraviolet (UV) light (PDF)

B. Patient information for other skin conditions

• Public/patient skin conditions information leaflets (British Association of Dermatologists) A comprehensive resource of patient information leaflets for many common skin conditions and their treatments.
• Patient.Info skin conditions. An online information and forum resource for many skin conditions that can be easily TRANSLATED to different languages.
• British Skin Foundation A-Z skin information. An alphabetical online resource of skin conditions, treatment options and self-care advice.

C. Patient support groups, personal experience videos and support programmes for skin conditions (PDF)

D. Patient information on how to use TOPICAL skin treatments (PDF)

E. Self-management in Eczema and Psoriasis 

• Personalised self-management plan for managing eczema in children from the Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol University has been developed to support parents and carers in managing their child’s eczema at home with support from their GP.
• EmolliZoo app from the National Eczema Society is a child friendly APP to support children and carers in learning about emollients in eczema as well as a diary to set up treatment reminders, and record photos and notes to discuss with healthcare professionals.
• My Eczema Tracker APP from the Centre for Evidence Based Dermatology, Nottingham University is an eczema severity assessment tool which is available to adults and children to self-complete their eczema symptoms over weeks or months. Available on Android. 
• Habit reversal is a behaviour modification technique combined with optimal emollient and topical corticosteroid therapy to help reduce habitual scratching in patients suffering with eczema.

F. Prescription Prepayment Certificates

Prescription prepayment certificates can be applied for online, through pharmacies or by telephone, and can enable savings on prescriptions when regular prescriptions are being charged.