Reducing Treatment Stress

Transitioning eczema care responsibility from caregivers to teens and young adults

The transfer of eczema care responsibility from caregivers to teens and young adults should be a gradual process. It’s helpful to start in the early teen years, so that by the time your child is a young adult, they are ready to take primary responsibility for managing their eczema treatment and healthcare. However, the exact timing for transitions depends on each patient’s ability and readiness.

Think about providing the support your child needs to learn a new task:

  • Teach your teen/young adult how to complete a task.

  • Complete the task together.

  • Have your teen/young adult complete the task with your supervision.

  • Continue to provide support during and after the transition process.

You can support your child’s involvement in their healthcare visits, as well.  

  • Consider having your child attend the appointments with their health care provider independently or make sure they have one-on-one time with the provider.  

  • Help your child prepare for their visit by thinking about questions ahead of time. It may help to keep a list. 

If your child’s eczema is managed by a pediatric healthcare provider, it’s important to talk with that provider about when to transition to an adult healthcare provider. 

  • Consider helping your child create a medical summary to use when they meet with a new healthcare provider. This is a written overview of their medical information and history, including medical conditions/diagnosis, medications, allergies and any other specific needs.  

Other resources for transitioning health care responsibility to teens and young adults:

GPER’s Eczema Breakthroughs Podcast: Episode 14- Passing the baton on eczema care from parent to child