Eczema (atopic dermatitis) affects around one in three Australians at some point in their lives, and for most people it follows a pattern of quiet periods interrupted by flare-ups. Many mild flares can be settled at home with the right routine — but some flare-ups signal infection, need prescription treatment, or point to a trigger that needs proper management.
Here's what causes flare-ups, how to calm a mild one, the warning signs that mean you should see a doctor, and how an online GP can help with prescriptions, referrals and ongoing care.
Eczema flare not settling? An AHPRA-registered GP can assess your skin by video and prescribe treatment digitally — from $49.
Book an Online GP AppointmentWhat Is Eczema?
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition in which the skin barrier doesn't work as well as it should. Moisture escapes easily and irritants, allergens and microbes get in, triggering the itching, redness and inflammation that define a flare. It commonly starts in childhood, but adults can develop it too, and many people carry it through life in a milder form.
A flare-up is a period when symptoms intensify — the skin becomes red, intensely itchy, dry, scaly or weeping. Flares can last days to weeks and often follow exposure to a trigger. See our eczema condition guide for an overview of treatment options.
Generous, frequent emollient use is the single most important habit in settling a flare — and preventing the next one.
Weeping, crusting, pain or fever aren't a normal flare — infected eczema needs prescription treatment.
Heat, sweat, soaps, stress and allergens drive most flares. Spotting your pattern makes them easier to prevent.
Diagnosis and management rely on what the skin looks like and your history — ideal for a video consult.
Common Eczema Flare-Up Symptoms
- Intense itching, often worse at night
- Red, inflamed patches — on the face, neck, hands, inside of elbows and behind the knees
- Dry, scaly or rough skin
- Small raised bumps that may leak fluid and crust over when scratched
- Thickened, leathery patches in areas rubbed or scratched over a long time
- Raw, sensitive or cracked skin, which can sting when creams are applied
- Disturbed sleep because of itching
What Triggers Eczema Flare-Ups?
- Dry skin and low humidity — including indoor heating and cold winter air
- Soaps, detergents and fragrances — including some "gentle" products
- Heat and sweat — a major driver of flares in Australian summers
- Allergens — dust mites, pet dander, pollen and sometimes certain foods
- Stress — the itch–stress cycle is real: stress worsens flares and flares worsen stress
- Skin infections — bacteria (particularly staph), viruses and fungi can trigger or worsen flares
- Rough fabrics — wool and synthetics can irritate sensitive skin
- Hormonal changes and illness — flares often worsen with colds or around hormonal shifts
Identifying your personal pattern is one of the most valuable things you can do — and it's exactly the kind of history a GP can help you piece together.
How to Calm a Mild Flare-Up at Home
- Moisturise generously and often: fragrance-free emollients or ointments, applied at least twice daily and after showering, are the foundation of eczema care.
- Use your topical steroid as directed: if you've been prescribed one, use the strength and duration your doctor advised rather than stopping as soon as the skin looks better.
- Take a warm (not hot) short shower: pat dry, then apply moisturiser within a few minutes.
- Cool the itch: cool compresses help; oral antihistamines at night can aid sleep (they don't treat the eczema itself).
- Avoid scratching: keep nails short, consider cotton gloves or wet wraps at night, and swap irritating fabrics for soft cotton.
- Review your products: switch to fragrance-free, soap-free washes and laundry products during a flare.
If a flare isn't settling after a week or two of this routine — or keeps coming back — it's time for a GP review.
Mild Flare vs Infected Eczema
Infected eczema needs medical treatment — usually prescription topical or oral antibiotics — and repeated infections are a reason to review your overall eczema plan.
When to See a Doctor for Eczema
- A flare-up that isn't improving after one to two weeks of regular moisturising and prescribed treatment
- Frequent flares — more than you'd like, or enough to disrupt sleep, work or study
- Signs of possible infection (as above)
- Eczema in a new area, or affecting your face, eyes, hands or genitals
- Sleep regularly disrupted by itching
- Treatments that have stopped working or cause stinging, burning or skin thinning
- Uncertainty about your diagnosis — other conditions can mimic eczema
Children with eczema should be reviewed by a doctor more readily, especially babies and toddlers, as flares can deteriorate quickly and management differs by age.
Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if you have rapidly spreading redness, warmth and pain with fever (possible cellulitis), a rash with clustered blisters that looks like burns (possible eczema herpeticum — a viral infection needing urgent antiviral treatment), fever with a rapidly worsening and painful rash, or you feel seriously unwell.
These are not routine flare-ups — they need same-day assessment.
Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department.
How a Telehealth GP Can Help With Eczema
Eczema is well suited to online care, because diagnosis and management are based on what the skin looks like and the history behind the flare. An AHPRA-registered Australian GP can:
- Assess your flare by video and review your current treatment routine
- Prescribe topical corticosteroids, antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics as an eScript when appropriate — see how online prescriptions work
- Issue repeat prescriptions for your regular eczema medications
- Provide a pathology referral or specialist referral to a dermatologist for persistent or complex cases
- Issue a medical certificate if a severe flare is keeping you off work or study
- Help you build a stepwise eczema plan so the next flare is caught earlier
GP consultations start from $49, repeat prescriptions are $25, referrals are $25 and medical certificates start from $15 — see current pricing and fees.
How to Get Help for an Eczema Flare Online in 3 Steps
- Book online: Choose a GP consultation and briefly describe your flare, including any treatments you've already tried (book now).
- Show your skin: During a video consult the GP can visually assess the affected areas — good lighting makes the assessment more accurate.
- Get treatment delivered digitally: Prescriptions, referrals and medical certificates are sent straight to your device or pharmacy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Common questions about eczema flare-ups and online care in Australia.
How long should an eczema flare-up last before I see a doctor?
With consistent moisturising and appropriate treatment, most mild flares improve noticeably within one to two weeks. If yours isn't settling after that, is getting worse, or keeps recurring, book a GP review — you may need prescription treatment or a revised eczema plan.
Can a telehealth doctor prescribe steroid cream for eczema?
Yes. An AHPRA-registered GP can assess your skin by video and prescribe topical corticosteroids, antibiotic creams or other treatments as an eScript when clinically appropriate. They will also advise on strength, where to apply it and how long to use it.
What does infected eczema look like?
Infected eczema is usually more painful than itchy, with weeping or oozing, yellow or honey-coloured crusting, "punched-out" sores, rapidly spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and sometimes fever. If you notice these signs, see a doctor promptly — infected eczema needs prescription treatment.
Is eczema the same as a food allergy?
No. Food allergy can trigger eczema flares in some people — particularly young children — but eczema is a skin barrier and immune condition, not an allergy itself. Avoid cutting out major food groups without medical guidance; a GP can help you work out whether allergy testing is worthwhile.
Can I get a medical certificate for an eczema flare?
Yes. If a severe flare — especially on your hands, or with significant sleep loss — is making work or study impractical, an online GP can assess you and issue a medical certificate. Certificates start from $15 and are delivered digitally.
Get Your Eczema Flare Assessed Today
Skip the clinic queue. An AHPRA-registered GP can assess your skin by video and send prescriptions, referrals or certificates digitally.
Book an Online GP Appointment