Contact 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.

We accept all major credit cards, including AMEX cards, as well as Google and Apple Pay.

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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.

Patients also retain full control of their personal health information, medical records and test results at all times. Our approach is reinforced by consultations with leading experts, guaranteeing comprehensive policy frameworks that are reviewed at a regular cadence.

All providers delivering healthcare through Maple are licensed in Canada and governed by their licensing regulatory colleges, and in all instances, must act in accordance with the governing principles set out in the telemedicine policies of each medical regulator in the applicable province.

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. The healthcare practitioner will want to discuss the symptoms and signs of contact dermatitis that you’re experiencing and perform a physical exam. Making note of the observation will determine the severity of your symptoms.

The healthcare provider will also want to talk to you about any possible contact with triggers that could have instigated your contact dermatitis. If a diagnosis for contact dermatitis is not possible, you may be referred to a dermatologist, who specializes in identifying different types of skin conditions.

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

Contact dermatitis is caused by direct contact with a substance that triggers contact dermatitis symptoms, or an allergic reaction to that substance.

While symptoms and signs of contact dermatitis are caused by direct exposure to reaction-causing substances, these signs can appear to look similar to other forms of dermatitis.

The most common symptoms and signs of contact dermatitis include:

• Skin redness or a red-coloured rash
• Cracked, scaly, dry skin
• Itching (potentially severe)
• Small red bumps or blisters, which may crust over or ooze when scratched
• Burning or tenderness at the affected area
• Swelling

Contact dermatitis can be caused by exposure or direct contact with irritants, allergens, and physical agents causing microtrauma and disruption to the skin barrier. Some people may have a reaction after a single exposure, while others may not develop a reaction until they’ve had multiple exposures. Occasionally, people develop tolerance to the irritants over time, resulting in less severe reactions.

The healthcare practitioner may be able to provide a diagnosis for contact dermatitis by evaluating the signs of contact dermatitis you’re experiencing. They’ll also want to discuss your medical history and known allergies, to help try to narrow down the trigger for your condition.

In many cases, the healthcare provider will want to perform a physical exam so that they can evaluate the pattern and severity of your contact dermatitis. This will help with determining appropriate contact dermatitis treatments. They may also refer you to a dermatologist, who specializes in identifying skin disorders.

Sometimes, the healthcare practitioner may suggest a patch test to check for new allergies that could be causing your contact dermatitis.

Once the healthcare team is able to provide a clear contact dermatitis diagnosis, they can suggest treatments based on the severity of your condition. This includes any prescription contact dermatitis medications that may be required as part of your treatment plan.

To avoid worsening contact dermatitis, avoid any known allergens or irritants that could cause your skin condition to flare up.

There are a number of over-the-counter topical creams and oral medications that are designed as minor contact dermatitis treatments. Your healthcare provider may suggest trying these treatments before suggesting prescription contact dermatitis medications.

You can also make lifestyle changes to help reduce your contact dermatitis symptoms, such as:

• Avoid scratching
• Applying cool, damp compresses
• Soaking in cool water (using baking soda or oatmeal-based bath products)
• Protecting your skin from exposure to irritants and/or allergens

If these contact dermatitis treatments aren’t helping improve your conditions or in the event your symptoms are severe, the doctor may suggest prescription contact dermatitis medications. This could include corticosteroid creams or ointments, as well as oral medications to help manage your symptoms.

If you’re showing signs of contact dermatitis, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare practitioner. Contact dermatitis could be an indication of new allergies you may not have known or irritants to avoid .

A healthcare practitioner from Maple can help provide a clear contact dermatitis diagnosis, so you can take steps to reduce flare ups in the future. They can also suggest any medications that you may need to reduce your symptoms.

Unfortunately, ignoring contact dermatitis symptoms will not help because this condition won’t subside over time. Book a call with Maple today and let us help you take control of your condition.