Interview transcription:

We asked Penelope Pratsou how long it takes to treat eczema and what costs are associated with the treatment.

How long does eczema treatment take and what does eczema treatment cost?

Penelope Pratsou: It is a bit tricky to put a timeline to this because eczema does tend to be a chronic problem. It all depends on how quickly we can get things under control. What I like to do is spend quite a bit of time on our first consultation, explaining about eczema, what it is and really what the best treatment option might be and going into depth as to how you use the treatment, where you’re going to use it and how much you’re going to use…

The first step to feeling in charge of your skin is to book an initial consultation

FIND OUT HOW TO GET THE SKIN YOU WANT

Penelope Pratsou: It isn’t very easy to retain all that information, so I tend to give you a personalised treatment plan in writing so that you go away knowing how you’re going to use your treatments or how your child needs to use them on their skin. After that, I would expect, hopefully, to see you back with much-improved skin and that would be in a matter of a few weeks.

Hopefully, if things are under control, then we might not need to see each other regularly. It might be that you get things under control, and you only need to see me if something were to flare up. It does depend on the situation and what treatment you’re on.

Cost-wise, we’re talking about the cost of your consultations, whether or not we need any specific tests. In the vast majority of cases, we don’t really, and it is the cost of the prescription. Once we’re on a treatment that you’re happy with, with regards to your skin, and that I’m happy is working for you, then we carry on with that and only see you as needed.

If you notice that you have any of the symptoms or conditions that we’ve just discussed, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr Penelope Pratsou. She’ll be able to assess your situation and give you a personalised treatment plan.

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About the author

Dr Penelope Pratsou | Consultant Dermatologist

MBChB, MRCP (UK) (Dermatology)

I’m Dr Penelope Pratsou, a skilled independent Consultant Dermatologist based in Berkshire. I have specialist expertise in the diagnosis and management of all skin cancers, and in performing mole checks. I’m a trained skin surgeon and remove skin cancers, moles, skin tags, cysts and warts.

I also have invaluable experience in dealing with all skin conditions, from the common skin complaints of acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis, to the rarer and more complex skin problems, having seen it all through years of NHS work.

After I obtained my Membership to the Royal College of Physicians, I undertook rigorous specialist training in dermatology, before being appointed as a Consultant Dermatologist at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading. There, I helped set up and lead a busy clinic for the diagnosis and treatment of suspected skin cancer. I was also actively involved in supervising and training both dermatology and GP trainees.

Alongside my increasingly busy private practice, I have maintained an NHS practice in Oxford in order to continue to engage with challenging cases and to develop my specialist interest in skin allergy.