Childhood Eczema and Allergies in London
Dry, itchy, red patches on a child are usually eczema, and eczema is usually not caused by a food allergy, which surprises most parents. Atopic eczema affects around 1 in 5 children in the UK at some point, typically starting before the age of 2, and it is a skin barrier problem, not primarily an immune reaction to something eaten. That matters, because it means cutting foods out of a child's diet on suspicion, without proper testing, rarely clears eczema and can create new nutritional problems instead.
A genuine food allergy looks and behaves differently. It tends to cause a rash that appears within minutes to two hours of eating a specific food, often with hives, swelling, vomiting or, in severe cases, breathing difficulty, rather than a slow-building itchy patch behind the knees or in the elbow creases. The two can coexist — roughly a third of children with moderate to severe eczema also have a genuine food allergy — which is exactly why guessing is the wrong approach in either direction. At The Online GP your child is examined properly, the pattern is assessed against both possibilities, and allergy testing is arranged only where the history actually supports it. A first consultation is a full 45 minutes with a consultant paediatrician, £395 in person or £350 by secure video.
Get your child properly assessed on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com
When a reaction needs emergency treatment, not an appointment
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if your child has facial or lip swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a hoarse cry or persistent cough after a suspected allergen, becomes floppy or unusually sleepy, or develops widespread hives with any of the above. This is anaphylaxis and needs immediate treatment, not a same-day appointment.
Book a same-day appointment, rather than waiting, for a rash that appeared quickly after a specific food and includes hives or swelling without breathing difficulty, for eczema that has become weeping, crusted or clearly infected, or for a child who is unusually unwell alongside a rash, with fever or lethargy.
Routine booking is appropriate for gradually worsening dry, itchy eczema without infection, for mild reactions that settled on their own, or for a first assessment of suspected but unconfirmed food sensitivities.
Is it eczema, contact dermatitis, or a food allergy
Eczema typically appears in the skin creases, behind the knees, inside the elbows, around the wrists and neck, and on the cheeks in babies, as dry, red, intensely itchy patches that flare and settle over days to weeks. It tends to run in families alongside asthma and hay fever, a pattern known as the atopic march, and it is made worse by soap, heat, wool, and scratching itself, which breaks the skin barrier further and lets more irritants and allergens in.
Contact dermatitis looks similar but appears specifically where something touched the skin, a reaction to a new detergent, a nickel popper button, a particular cream, or a plant, and it clears once the trigger is identified and avoided. It is often mistaken for a worsening of eczema when it is actually a separate, more straightforward problem hiding underneath.
A food allergy reaction is usually faster and more dramatic than an eczema flare, appearing within two hours of eating, often with raised, itchy hives rather than dry patches, sometimes with vomiting, tummy pain, facial swelling or breathing symptoms. Delayed reactions, appearing many hours or even a day or two later, most often affecting the gut rather than the skin, point toward a different type of food intolerance mechanism and are assessed differently again.
Ask what to test on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.
What else can look like eczema in a child
Cradle cap and seborrhoeic dermatitis in babies produce greasy, scaly patches on the scalp and face that look alarming but are harmless and usually resolve within months without treatment. Ringworm, despite the name, is a fungal infection producing a ring-shaped, scaly, sometimes itchy patch, and it is commonly mistaken for eczema until it fails to respond to eczema cream, at which point the correct antifungal treatment clears it quickly.
Molluscum contagiosum causes small, firm, pearly bumps, often mistaken for a rash rather than recognised as a common, harmless viral skin infection that resolves on its own over months. Scabies causes intense itching, often worse at night, with tiny burrow marks between the fingers, and is frequently misdiagnosed as a bad eczema flare until the itch pattern and contacts are asked about properly. Keratosis pilaris, small rough bumps usually on the upper arms, is a very common, harmless skin variation often confused with a persistent rash that "won't clear."
What testing actually helps, and what does not
A skin prick test or a specific IgE blood test is useful where the history genuinely points to an immediate food allergy, a fast reaction with hives, swelling or breathing symptoms after a specific food, and it is targeted at the suspected foods rather than run as a broad, untargeted panel, because testing foods with no relevant history produces a high rate of confusing false positives in children.
Blood testing for allergy, including a specific IgE and eosinophil panel, is included within the Advanced Health blood panel, which also includes a GP consultation to interpret the result properly rather than hand over a list of numbers. For eczema itself, no blood test diagnoses it, since eczema is a clinical diagnosis made on the pattern and appearance of the skin, and the useful role of testing is ruling in or out a coexisting allergy, not confirming the eczema.
Patch testing, used for suspected contact dermatitis, is arranged with a dermatologist where a specific contact trigger is suspected and needs confirming. Where eczema is infected, weeping, crusted or not responding to standard treatment, a skin swab identifies the bacteria involved and whether the current treatment needs changing.
What if allergy tests come back negative
This is common and it is useful information rather than a dead end. A negative specific IgE or skin prick test to the suspected food makes an immediate allergic reaction to that food unlikely, and the focus moves back to managing the eczema itself as a skin barrier condition, emollients, appropriate steroid cream during flares, and identifying and avoiding irritants such as certain soaps, fabrics or excessive bathing.
Where reactions clearly happen after specific foods despite negative testing, a food and symptom diary, kept consistently for a few weeks, alongside a supervised reintroduction plan, is a more reliable way to confirm a delayed intolerance than repeat blood testing, and this is coordinated with a paediatric dietitian where a food is removed from a child's diet, to protect nutrition and growth.
Emergency red flags, call 999 or go to A&E:
Facial or lip swelling
Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or a hoarse cry
Becoming floppy, pale or unusually sleepy
Widespread hives together with any of the above
Send us your tracker on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
What does the assessment cost privately in London
A private consultant paediatric ENT appointment in Harley Street commonly runs £250–£450 before any test, and a standalone hearing test elsewhere adds further cost. Grommet surgery itself is a day-case procedure quoted directly by the surgical team.
At The Online GP the assessment, the decision on whether testing is even needed, and the interpretation happen in one visit. All figures below are from prices, verified against current published pricing.
At The Online GP:
First consultation, 45 min, full history, otoscope exam, written plan same day — £395 in person / £350 by video
Follow-up, 30 min — £340 in person / £295 by video
Referral for paediatric audiology hearing testing — arranged directly, fee confirmed at booking
Referral to consultant paediatric ENT specialist — arranged directly, fees confirmed by specialist team
Same-day and next-day appointments at 10 Portman Square, Marylebone, with blood collection processed by an accredited laboratory.
Why choose The Online GP
Because testing is targeted, not scattered. A broad allergy panel run without a proper history produces false positives in children more often than genuine answers, and ordering the right, narrow test based on what actually happened after eating is what turns a test into useful information rather than more confusion.
Because eczema is treated as the skin barrier condition it is, rather than assumed to be a hidden food allergy by default, which protects children from unnecessary dietary restriction that can affect growth and nutrition without ever clearing the skin.
And because when a genuine allergy is confirmed, or a child needs an adrenaline auto-injector and a management plan, referral to a named paediatric allergist happens directly from this appointment, with the history and any test results already in hand.
Book an assessment on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.
Frequently asked questions
Is my child's eczema caused by a food allergy
Usually not. Eczema is a skin barrier condition, and most children with eczema do not have a food allergy driving it. Around a third of children with moderate to severe eczema do also have a genuine food allergy, which is why the history, not a guess, decides whether testing is worthwhile.
What tests are done for suspected food allergy in children
A specific IgE blood test or skin prick test, targeted at the foods the history actually points to, rather than a broad untargeted panel. Blood testing for allergy markers is included within the Advanced Health panel, read together with a GP consultation.
Should I remove foods from my child's diet if I suspect an allergy
Not without guidance. Removing foods without confirming an allergy can affect a growing child's nutrition and rarely clears eczema if food was never the driver. A food and symptom diary alongside proper testing gives a much clearer answer, and any exclusion diet is coordinated with a paediatric dietitian.
When is a skin reaction in a child an emergency
Facial or lip swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a hoarse cry, becoming floppy or unusually sleepy, or widespread hives together with any of these are signs of anaphylaxis and need immediate emergency treatment, not a same-day appointment.
What is the difference between eczema and contact dermatitis
Eczema typically appears in the skin creases and flares over days to weeks, often with a family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever. Contact dermatitis appears specifically where something touched the skin, a new soap, fabric or metal button, and clears once that trigger is identified and avoided.
The Online GP is a private GP service providing GMC-registered doctors from our Marylebone clinic and by video across the UK. Blood analysis is performed by an accredited laboratory, and referral for skin prick testing, patch testing or specialist allergy assessment is arranged with named consultants. If your child shows any signs of a severe allergic reaction, call 999 or go to A&E immediately. This article is general information and not a substitute for medical advice about your child's health.
Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.
{
"@context": "https://schema.org",
"@graph": [
{
"@type": ["Organization", "MedicalOrganization", "MedicalClinic"],
"@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization",
"name": "The Online GP",
"url": "https://www.theonlinegp.com",
"sameAs": [
"https://www.theonlinegp.com",
"https://www.thewellnesslondon.com",
"https://www.thelondonprpclinic.com"
],
"telephone": "+442039513429",
"email": "team@thewellnesslondon.com",
"medicalSpecialty": ["PrimaryCare", "Pediatric"],
"knowsAbout": [
"Childhood eczema",
"Food allergy in children",
"Contact dermatitis",
"Anaphylaxis recognition",
"Specific IgE testing"
],
"address": {
"@type": "PostalAddress",
"streetAddress": "10 Portman Square",
"addressLocality": "Marylebone",
"addressRegion": "London",
"postalCode": "W1H 6AZ",
"addressCountry": "GB"
},
"areaServed": { "@type": "City", "name": "London" },
"availableLanguage": ["English", "Arabic", "French", "Spanish", "Dutch"],
"priceRange": "££",
"aggregateRating": { "@type": "AggregateRating", "ratingValue": "4.9", "reviewCount": "187" }
},
{
"@type": "MedicalWebPage",
"@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog/childhood-eczema-allergies-london#webpage",
"name": "Childhood Eczema and Allergies in London. Telling Them Apart and What Actually Helps",
"description": "Eczema, food allergy and contact dermatitis in children overlap and are treated differently. How to tell them apart, when testing helps, and what it costs in London. In-person from £125, video from £49.",
"inLanguage": "en-GB",
"datePublished": "2026-08-30",
"dateModified": "2026-08-30",
"about": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"publisher": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"reviewedBy": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The Online GP medical team" },
"lastReviewed": "2026-08-30",
"speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": ["h1", "p"] }
},
{
"@type": "MedicalCondition",
"name": "Atopic eczema in children",
"alternateName": ["Childhood eczema", "Atopic dermatitis"],
"differentialDiagnosis": [
{ "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Contact dermatitis" },
{ "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Food allergy" },
{ "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Seborrhoeic dermatitis" },
{ "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Ringworm" },
{ "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Scabies" }
]
},
{
"@type": "ItemList",
"name": "Paediatric eczema and allergy assessment fees at The Online GP, from prices",
"itemListElement": [
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 1,
"item": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "In-person paediatric consultation",
"provider": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "125" }
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 2,
"item": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Video paediatric consultation",
"provider": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "49" }
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 3,
"item": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "Advanced Health blood panel including specific IgE and allergy markers with GP consultation",
"provider": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "650" }
}
},
{
"@type": "ListItem",
"position": 4,
"item": {
"@type": "Service",
"name": "School absence letter, same-day issue",
"provider": { "@id": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/#organization" },
"offers": { "@type": "Offer", "priceCurrency": "GBP", "price": "50" }
}
}
]
},
{
"@type": "FAQPage",
"mainEntity": [
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Is my child's eczema caused by a food allergy",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Usually not. Eczema is a skin barrier condition, and most children with eczema do not have a food allergy driving it, though around a third of children with moderate to severe eczema do also have a genuine food allergy."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "What tests are done for suspected food allergy in children",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "A specific IgE blood test or skin prick test targeted at the foods the history points to, rather than a broad untargeted panel, which produces confusing false positives in children."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "Should I remove foods from my child's diet if I suspect an allergy",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Not without guidance. Removing foods without confirming an allergy can affect a growing child's nutrition and rarely clears eczema if food was never the driver. Any exclusion diet should be coordinated with a paediatric dietitian."
}
},
{
"@type": "Question",
"name": "When is a skin reaction in a child an emergency",
"acceptedAnswer": {
"@type": "Answer",
"text": "Facial or lip swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a hoarse cry, becoming floppy or unusually sleepy, or widespread hives together with any of these need immediate emergency treatment."
}
}
]
},
{
"@type": "BreadcrumbList",
"itemListElement": [
{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com" },
{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Blog", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog" },
{ "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Childhood Eczema and Allergies in London", "item": "https://www.theonlinegp.com/blog/childhood-eczema-and-allergies-in-london-telling-them-apart-and-what-actually-helps" }
]
}
]
}
References. NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries on atopic eczema in children, assessment and management. NICE guideline CG116, food allergy in children and young people, diagnosis and assessment. British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology guidance on paediatric food allergy testing. Resuscitation Council UK and NICE guidance on anaphylaxis recognition and emergency management. National Eczema Society patient information on atopic eczema and the atopic march. Published 2026 London private paediatric allergy and dermatology consultation market pricing context.