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  • About Eczema
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    • Eczema
    • Atopic Dermatitis
    • Eczema Treatment
    • Skin Care Tips
    • Diagnosis
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Treating Eczema

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) can have a negative impact on your life if it's not treated properly. It can affect how you feel about your appearance and how you dress. The itching and discomfort can make it hard to get a good night's sleep. And continued scratching can lead to a skin infection. That's why, if you have eczema, it's important to see your doctor who can determine what treatments are right for you.

Eczema Treatments

Anti-infectives

An unpleasant side effect of eczema is that sometimes a severe flare-up or excessive scratching can cause an infection in the skin. If this happens your doctor may prescribe an oral or topical (applied to the skin) medication to treat what is causing the infection.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines don't treat the eczema itself, but they may help relieve itching and their calming effects often help eczema sufferers get a good night's sleep. Stress is known to trigger eczema or make it worse. Rest and relaxation may go a long way in helping calm an eczema flare-up.

Calcineurin Inhibitors (also called Topical Immunomodulators or TIMs)

Applied topically, calcineurin inhibitors can reduce inflammation, which eases itching and reduces redness. This class of drug is a type of immunosuppressant, which decreases the effects of your immune system.

Corticosteroids

Also called steroids or glucocorticoids, corticosteroids are the most common over-the-counter and prescription treatment for eczema. Available as a pill, topical or injection, corticosteroids are often effective treatments. Topical corticosteroids are commonly used as the first line treatment of choice to reduce inflammation caused by eczema. A doctor will be able to determine if a topical steroid is right for you.

Phototherapy

Ultraviolet light therapy may help stubborn cases of eczema that don't respond to other treatments. The tricky part about this treatment is that it is generally given several times a week under the supervision of a health care provider. And this doesn't mean that you can run out and lie on the beach to treat your eczema. If you have eczema, it is very important that you avoid getting overheated or sunburned. Excessive sun exposure can make your eczema worse.