How Bad Is My Eczema? (Severity Test)
Take the Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD), the self-administered version of the clinical SCORAD used by dermatologists. Assess your eczema severity including affected area, symptom intensity, itch, and sleep disturbance. Track changes between appointments. Instant severity score.
Before You Start
- This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic test
- All answers are processed in your browser only
- No data is stored or sent to any server
- Results can be copied to share with your clinician
What Is PO-SCORAD?
The Patient-Oriented SCORAD (PO-SCORAD) is a self-assessment version of the clinical SCORAD, the standard tool used by dermatologists to measure eczema severity. Developed by the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis, PO-SCORAD allows you to assess your eczema severity at home using simplified body diagrams and visual scales. Research shows PO-SCORAD correlates well with clinician-administered SCORAD, making it a reliable tool for remote monitoring.
Tracking Eczema at Home
Eczema severity can fluctuate significantly from week to week. Regular PO-SCORAD assessments help you track patterns — you might notice flares related to seasons, stress, or specific triggers. This ongoing record is invaluable for your dermatologist, as a single clinic visit only captures a snapshot. Many dermatologists now ask patients to complete PO-SCORAD between appointments to guide treatment adjustments.
How PO-SCORAD Works
PO-SCORAD assesses three components: the extent of affected skin (using body diagrams), the intensity of symptoms (redness, swelling, crusting, scratch marks, thickening, dryness), and subjective symptoms (itch and sleep disturbance). These combine into a total score: under 25 indicates mild eczema, 25–50 moderate, and above 50 severe eczema.
Using Results with Your Dermatologist
Sharing your PO-SCORAD results with your dermatologist provides an objective basis for treatment discussions. A score above 50 typically warrants consideration of systemic therapy or specialist referral. Tracking scores over time also helps evaluate whether current treatment is working — a reduction of 8.7 points or more is considered clinically meaningful.