Eczema treatment is typically dictated by the severity of the condition and the detection of an underlying trigger. In mild to moderate cases, attention to skin care may help alleviate much of the itching and dryness. Bathing in lukewarm water instead of hot water and air-drying the skin after bathing can help reduce dryness. Many doctors recommend that eczema patients use hypoallergenic bath and skin products. Tar products can help extremely dry and thickened skin heal faster. Immediate moisturizing, within a couple of minutes of bathing, also helps reduce dryness. Oral antihistamines are often used to decrease itching; they may be particularly helpful for the relief of nighttime itching. Ultraviolet phototherapy, with or without a drug called psoralen, can also be used in mild to moderate cases in older children and adults.
For more severe eczema, corticosteroid creams can be used. Some of these creams are available over the counter, while more potent formulations are available under prescription only. Corticosteroid creams act by suppressing the immune reactions in the skin that occur during eczema and eventually lead to skin damage. These creams should always be used with caution, and only for as long as is absolutely necessary. This is because they have several side effects, such as thinning of the skin, appearance of stretch marks, interference with growth in children, and skin infections.
When skin care and corticosteroid preparations alone do not improve eczema, more powerful drugs called immune modulators may be prescribed. Tarcolimus and pimecrolimus are two such drugs that act by suppressing the immune system. However, their use has recently been linked to some forms of skin cancer. Systemic corticosteroids, taken either by mouth or by injection, may also be prescribed, but can cause potentially serious side effects such as bone weakening, high blood pressure, infections and cataracts. Immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine or methotrexate may be prescribed for refractory cases. These drugs have toxic effects on the body and can only suppress eczema, not cure it.
Related Articles of Interest :
-
Eczema Creams
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Skin dryness is common in eczema. Using moisturizing lotions alone may not suffice to keep skin adequately hydrated; creams or ointments that lubricate the skin may be needed instead. Creams and ointments are both heavier than lotions, and act by creating a seal over the...
-
Cure For Eczema
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
At present, there is no known cure for eczema. While between ten and twenty percent of all babies in the United States suffer from eczema, most of them are free of the condition by the age of two. The reason for this is not well...
-
Baby Eczema
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Eczema affects between ten and twenty percent of all babies in the United States. In the majority of these cases, the condition resolves by the time they reach two years of age. In some babies, eczema becomes chronic and may continue into adulthood. In babies,...
-
Dyshidrotic Eczema
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Dyshidrotic eczema is a chronic, recurring type of eczema that affects the hands and feet. Small, clear bubble-like vesicles appear in these regions during an episode and tend to be symmetrically distributed. While the palms and soles are most heavily involved, vesicles may also appear...
-
Home Remedy For Eczema
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
While eczema should be treated by a licensed medical professional, there are a number of home remedies that can be tried to reduce the severity of symptoms. Extreme temperatures or excessive dryness can trigger eczema in some people. Taking steps to stabilize the temperature of...
-
Eczema
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Eczema is a group of skin conditions characterized by inflammation and irritation. Itching is the most common symptom in all types of eczema. The skin may appear dry, scaly or red. In darker-skinned people, the affected skin may change color. While any part of the...
-
Eczema Causes
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
While the immune system is involved in some way, the exact cause of eczema is unknown. Typically, contact with some external allergen triggers an allergic reaction, leading to the typical skin symptoms and changes seen in eczema. This contact may occur once and result in...
-
Ring Worm Treatments
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Ringworm is an infectious skin disease spread by fungi called Dermatophytes. It spreads itself by forming ring-like pattern on skin with a circular rash that is inflamed at the edges and clean at the center. Though, ringworm is a curable disease it should never be...
-
Effective Acne Treatments for Teenagers
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Acne affects virtually all teenagers at one point or another, to varying degrees. Teen acne is hereditary and is brought on by hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress; oily hair and skin products; certain drugs such as steroids, testosterone,...
-
Dry Skin
10 August 2010 8:30 PM |
No Comments
Dry skin is a very common ailment, especially during winters. In medical terms, dry skin is referred to as “xerosis”. A person’s skin requires moisture and tends to become dry when enough moisture is not available when the oil glands cannot produce enough oil as...