Atopic dermatitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Maple is a virtual care platform that connects you with doctors and other healthcare providers via text, audio, or video. After you log in to your Maple account, you can request an online consultation.

Consultations work similarly to in-person appointments — the doctor can complete an assessment by asking questions about your symptoms, going through your health history, and determining what treatment is right for you. If they think your condition is more serious, they may tell you to go to a clinic for an in-person examination.

As a Maple member, you get 24/7 access to virtual primary care online and more. You can connect with our network of providers via text, audio, or video call within minutes.

Our membership costs $79.99/month and covers virtual care for patients and their families, including the primary account holder's spouse and any dependents.

For patients in eligible provinces, our membership includes:

• Access to daily primary care provider visits: One daily visit with a primary care provider for each family member in their household.
• Paediatric care: Covered paediatric primary care visits, available by appointment.
• Second medical opinions: access to a network of experts for a second opinion if diagnosed with a complex condition (e.g. cancer).
• Personal Health Check-Ins: A series of personalized, evidence-based proactive care screenings to maintain and improve health.
• iCBT courses: Access to iCBT (internet-based cognitive behavioural therapy) self-assessment and courses.
• Access to specialists in eligible provinces: Easy access to specialists on Maple within days, not months. No referral is needed.
• Specialist referrals in eligible provinces: Ability to be referred to a physician specialist for in-person care, if needed.
• Credit discounts: An $80 credit per month to be applied to a Maple specialist visit.

Please note that our membership cannot be combined with other offerings, such as private insurance coverage and provincial programs, where available. In some cases, membership fees can be covered by a Healthcare Spending Account (HSA) — check with your HSA provider for more details.

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Our policies and consent processes are designed to be simple and easily understood, empowering individuals with control and a clear understanding of their healthcare journey. When using our services, a patient’s session is protected by a comprehensive security infrastructure and stringent data policies.

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Regulators across Canada support and recognize the value of services like ours, and the way in which they can benefit patients, physicians, and Canada’s broader healthcare system by improving access to care and increasing efficiencies in the delivery of care.

Yes, you can. In many cases, no lab testing is needed to identify atopic dermatitis. The healthcare practitioner or dermatologist will more likely want to evaluate the symptoms or signs of atopic dermatitis that you’re experiencing and discuss your medical history.

Occasionally, the healthcare provider may suggest patch testing done on the affected skin, in order to rule out other conditions and provide a clear atopic dermatitis diagnosis.

Once the healthcare practitioner is able to offer a diagnosis for atopic dermatitis, they can suggest atopic dermatitis treatments that will work best for you.

Dermatitis is the general term used to describe skin irritation. Dermatitis can appear in a number of different forms, resulting from different causes.

Atopic dermatitis (also sometimes called eczema), is a common form of dermatitis that typically occurs in children, although it can appear at any age. It’s a chronic form of dermatitis, which tends to flare-up periodically and could be accompanied by either asthma or hay fever.

The symptoms and signs of atopic dermatitis can vary from one person to another, and atopic dermatitis symptoms can range from mild or severe. It often begins before children reach the age of five, and persists through into adulthood in some cases.

The most common signs of atopic dermatitis include:

• Cracked, scaly skin
• Thickening of skin in affected areas
• Small, raised bumps on the skin that may crust over or leak fluid when scratched
• Dry skin
• Itching (occurring most severely at night)
• Sensitive, swollen, or raw skin resulting from scratching

Atopic dermatitis is caused by a genetic variation that affects our skin’s ability to retain moisture and provide protection from irritants, allergens, and bacteria.

Sometimes in children, food allergies can cause atopic dermatitis flare-ups to occur.

As well, certain risk factors can cause the risks of atopic dermatitis appearing to increase, such as:

• Allergies
• Personal or family history of eczema
• Asthma
• Hay fever

Normally, your healthcare provider will be able to identify and diagnose atopic dermatitis by evaluating symptoms and discussing your personal and family medical histories.

Occasionally, the healthcare practitioner may suggest that you visit a dermatologist or have additional testing (like patch testing) performed to rule out other skin diseases. This may also help identify other conditions that could be accompanying your atopic dermatitis symptoms.

Once your healthcare team is able to provide a clear diagnosis for atopic dermatitis, they can suggest appropriate atopic dermatitis treatments for you. This includes any prescription atopic dermatitis medications that may be required as part of your treatment plan.

Finding effective atopic dermatitis treatments that will work best for you can be challenging. You may need to try a variety of atopic dermatitis treatments to find one that works best.

The clinical approach to managing atopic dermatitis is a combination of treatments, designed to reduce symptoms. This could include:

• Patient education
• Eliminating exacerbating factors
• Avoiding allergens
• Maintaining skin hydration (using emollients and moisturizers)
• Bathing or showering regularly (avoid hot water and moisturize immediately afterwards)

If you’ve been experiencing atopic dermatitis symptoms, and it’s having an impact on your daily life, you should talk to a healthcare practitioner.

A healthcare provider from Maple can help provide you with a clear diagnosis for atopic dermatitis, and offer tools you may need to manage your symptoms. This includes any potential prescription atopic dermatitis medications you may require for treatment.

Atopic dermatitis can be frustrating and embarrassing, but you don’t have to manage your symptoms alone. Book a call with a healthcare practitioner from Maple today, and let us help you take back control of your health.