Discoid eczema - Diagnosing discoid eczema
- Introduction
- Symptoms of discoid eczema
- Causes of discoid eczema
- Diagnosing discoid eczema
- Treating discoid eczema
As discoid eczema causes distinctive symptoms, your GP should be able to make a diagnosis by examining the affected areas of skin.
In some cases your GP may also ask questions or arrange some tests to rule out other conditions.
Possible tests include:
- a swab test to check for infection – a swab is wiped over your skin and tested for bacteria that may cause an infection
- examining the flakes of skin – a small piece of skin is removed and examined under a microscope to check for a fungal skin infection, such as ringworm, which can have similar symptoms to discoid eczema
- patch testing may be used in rare cases to rule out contact dermatitis – small amounts of different substances are applied to your skin to see if they cause a reaction
Patch tests are usually negative in people with discoid eczema.
Your GP may refer you to a dermatologist (a doctor who specialises in managing skin conditions) if they are unsure of the diagnosis or if you need patch testing.
Read more about allergy testing.
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