How can I treat my Eczema?
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There is no known cure for eczema, but there are many different eczema treatments and therapies that can relieve eczema symptoms, such as; oral medication, topical creams and gels, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes.
Below is a list of treatments available for eczema sufferers.
You should discuss these treatments with a qualified medical practitioner before using them.
Topical treatments
Emollients are oils and creams which provide moisture to the skin to relieve dryness, pain, and cracking resulting from eczema. The best ones should not contain any perfumes or other additives which may irritate the skin.
Topical steroids can be obtained over-the-counter, or as a prescription drug sold in the form of a cream or ointment. They can be very effective, if used correctly; however, it is generally advised to take the lowest strength steroids that are effective for your skin as these treatments do produce side effects. These side effects include skin thinning, stretch marks, easy bruising and tearing of the skin, enlarged blood vessels, and susceptibility to skin infections.
Natural remedies
Probiotics such as lactobacillus GG are “helpful” bacteria that are found in the digestive tract and have been scientifically proven to prevent eczema.
Wet wrap therapy
This therapy involves wrapping the eczema affected areas in wet bandages. It works to rehydrate the skin, reduce redness and swelling, and to provide itch relief. It involves soaking in a bath that contains emollient oils followed by applying moisturizer to the skin, and then wrapping the affected areas in bandages which have been soaked in luke-warm water or special moisturizer.
UV treatment (phototherapy)
This is a treatment for severe eczema cases and consists in the patient being exposed to UV-B and UV-A rays for several minutes, two or three times a week. Treatment can last for several months; it is expensive and can have potential side-effects such as fatigue, headaches, nausea, itching, skin burn, and irregular skin pigmentation.
Tar preparations
Coal tar treatments which come in the form of lotions, creams, ointments, and shampoos is an older form of treating eczema and other skin conditions. Although it isn’t fully understood how it works, it appears to have itch and inflammation reducing properties.
Kathleen Leroi - A 43 year-old Texas Native who started learning about skin conditions after experiencing from acne and, to this day, cellulite. Reasons why Kathleen Leroi has been writing healthcare articles to help others for 10 years now. Click here to keep reading more Kathleen Leroi HEALTHCARE ARTICLES
Rob Vote:
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November 22, 2008 at 12:42 pm
What? No known cure for eczema? I son has eczema which started I think before he was 6 months old when we tried to feed him some baby food. In the beginning we one used one those steroid creams from the hospital. I don’t quite remember what it was. It acted fast but we worried about potentially damaging his skin so we opted for some other cream which seem to work but still only use it when absolutely neccessary. Could it be the food that started the eczema?
krissybee14 Vote:
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November 24, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I have had eczema since I was young. It is in our blood. It just went worst when I got asthma of the skin. I used to go to school wearing slippers because of my eczema on my toes. I was prescribed a lot of ointments for it. Then there was think pink solution that was diluted in the water and i will soak my foot on it. Now it occurs less, I use sulfur soap and don’t use much fragrance as it triggers it sometime.
Mike Vote:
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December 4, 2008 at 4:33 pm
One of my close friends has eczema and she took topical steroids but was never happy with the side effects. She had enlarged blood vessel problems so was eager to find natural solutions. I help her with wet wrap therapy, which worked really well.
I never heard of tar treatements and wonder if she did. Do you have an specific recommendations for this type of treatment?
BioCutis Vote:
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December 9, 2008 at 10:17 am
Hey Rob! Thank you for visiting and commenting on the BIOCUTIS blog.
Concerning your question - Food allergies have been reported as possible eczema and dermatitis triggers. Foods like eggs, nuts wheat and dairy products could be the cause to your son’s eczema. However, eczema has several other causes and may be serious if not treated in time and with the proper medication. I recommend you see your dermatologist for more details on your son’s eczema.
Let me know how it went and good luck!
Kathleen Leroi - Healthcare advisor
BioCutis Vote:
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December 9, 2008 at 10:53 am
Mike -
Even though this treatment isn’t used as much as the others placed above, tar baths are rather good for eczema. Tar baths have a soothing effect on inflamed skin. However, only temporary.
If you have anymore questions, don’t be afraid to ask.
Kathleen Leroi - Healthcare Advisor