The short answer: A useful skincare record shows what you used, when you used it, what changed, and when you noticed. AAD says to tell a dermatologist about all the skin, hair and nail care products you use and when the rash appears. The blank tables below capture that in a form you can fill in at home and hand over in a few minutes.
Keep this record on paper or in your own notes. It’s for you and the professional you choose to show it to, so please don’t send it, or any photos, to this website.
Why a written record helps
Memory is a weak guide for skin changes. AAD notes that something that touched your skin hours or days ago may be the cause, and allergic reactions most often appear 24 to 48 hours after exposure. A dated log keeps those gaps visible. It also captures changes that are easy to forget, such as a new shampoo or a product you stopped last month.
The record shows timing, and the cause remains a question for the professional. A clinician can weigh it alongside an exam and any testing.
Part 1: Product list
List everything that touches the area, including hair products, makeup, sunscreen and anything you recently stopped. Copy the name exactly from the package.
| Product and brand | Type | Where applied | How often | Date started | Date stopped | Package kept? (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Part 2: Change log
Add a line only when something changes: a new product, a different amount, or something you notice on your skin. There’s no need to write every day.
| Date | What changed in your routine | What you noticed | Where on your body | Hours or days since last use | Photo? (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fictional example, for format only
| Date | What changed in your routine | What you noticed | Where on your body | Hours or days since last use | Photo? (Y/N) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 3 | Started “Sample Night Cream” in the evening | Nothing noticed | Face | Not applicable | N |
| March 6 | No change | Dry, itchy patch, about the size of a coin | Left jaw | About 10 hours | Y |
Notice the wording in the second row. It describes what can be seen and felt. “Allergic reaction to night cream” would be a conclusion, and that’s the question you’re bringing to the appointment.
Part 3: Everything else that matters
Patient groups advise listing medications and supplements with dose, frequency, brand and how long you’ve taken them. AAD also says a dermatologist may ask about your health, job and hobbies.
| Item | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Prescription medicines (name, dose, how often, since when) | |
| Over-the-counter medicines and creams | |
| Vitamins and supplements | |
| Treatments already tried, and what happened | |
| Job and hobbies with skin contact (gloves, chemicals, plants, metals) | |
| Household or other products touching this area | |
| Past allergy tests, biopsies or lab results |
Part 4: One-minute summary
Fill this in the night before. It gives the appointment a clear starting point, and a professional can scan it quickly.
- My main concern: ______________________
- It started around: ______________________
- It’s worse when: ______________________
- It’s better when: ______________________
- What I most want from this visit: ______________________
- Question 1: ______________________
- Question 2: ______________________
- Question 3: ______________________
Photos: keep them simple
The National Rosacea Society suggests photos taken when signs are at their worst, from multiple angles, and the National Eczema Association suggests keeping them in a clearly labeled phone album or folder. Use the same lighting where you can, and note the date in Part 2 so each photo lines up with the log. Check who can see a shared album or a backed-up folder before you store skin photos there.
What to bring on the day
- This record, printed or on your phone.
- Your products in a bag, or clear pictures of them with ingredient labels.
- Any material you already suspect, since MedlinePlus advises you to bring it with you.
- Your list of medicines, vitamins and supplements.
AAD also advises skipping makeup, nail polish and heavy moisturizer before the visit.
Two limits to keep in mind
Don’t change prescribed treatment to make the record cleaner. AAD warns that stopping prednisone suddenly can cause a rebound rash. Ask your prescriber before changing a medicine, and note the question in Part 4.
Don’t keep logging through urgent symptoms. AAD advises seeking care for a rash that blisters, spreads rapidly, is painful, comes with fever, or involves the eyes, lips, mouth or genital skin. Trouble breathing or swallowing, or swelling of the eyes or lips, needs immediate emergency care.
Your next step
Start Part 1 tonight by reading the labels in your bathroom. The rest of the record builds on that list. For more on reading those labels, see our sensitive skin section and the fragrance label guide, or return to the main skincare section.
This template is an organizing tool. It doesn’t diagnose any condition, and this site doesn’t review personal records.
Sources
- AAD, Contact dermatitis diagnosis and treatment
- AAD, Contact dermatitis tips for managing
- AAD, How to select a dermatologist
- AAD, Rash 101 in adults
- MedlinePlus, Contact dermatitis
- National Eczema Association, How to Prepare for Your Eczema Appointment
- National Rosacea Society, Take These 5 Things to Your Next Dermatology Appointment