Treating Eczema

Skin Care  -  18/08/2020
Treating Eczema

As there is no definitive eczema cure, the goal of eczema treatments are to manage symptoms of flare-ups and to relieve and prevent itching. Similar to what causes eczema, how to treat eczema can be different for everyone and for different types of eczema. Read more below on tips to manage eczema.

Eczema may require treatments and a maintenance routine to manage symptoms. Depending on the severity and type of eczema, your dermatologist will provide the most effective course of treatment. Common solutions for how to treat eczema include:

Bathing & Moisturizing

Eczema prone skin retains less moisture than normal skin, often resulting in dryness. To give the skin the moisture it needs, a combination of bathing and moisturizing may be used1 . It is recommended to soak skin in lukewarm water for no more than 10 minutes. After dabbing skin dry with a towel, apply a body moisturizer to lock in moisture. A great way to tell which moisturizers and cleansers are appropriate is to check the National Eczema Association website for a list of qualified products. The Lipikar line of body lotions has been accepted by the National Eczema Association after a thorough review of their ingredients, safety, and efficacy. These body lotions for dry skin and eczema are suitable for the whole family including babies even as young as 2 weeks.

Corticosteroids for Eczema Treatment

Your dermatologist may prescribe topical corticosteroid creams to be applied to the affected areas. Corticosteroid creams are a common eczema treatment that have anti-inflammatory properties. For less severe cases, over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams may be used to help soothe skin and reduce damage from scratching. For the most severe cases, oral or injectable corticosteroids may be administered. These are only recommended for short-term use due to possible side effects.

Wet Wrap Therapy

During severe flare-ups, wet therapy can be used to hydrate and soothe skin. This treatment can be done at home after bathing and moisturizing or medicating. It involves applying damp gauze or clothing to the affected area.

Light Therapy for Eczema Treatment

If medications do not work for you, there is some evidence to support the use of light therapy, or phototherapy. This involves exposing the skin to a controlled amount of UVB rays to help calm inflammation and increase levels of vitamin D. This treatment should be administered by a health care professional.

Immunosuppressants

While there is no definitive cause to eczema, it has been linked to an immune system that overacts to certain irritants. Often prescribed for severe eczema that does not respond to topical treatments, immuno-suppressants work by lowering the body’s immune system response. Due to potential side effects, this eczema treatment is typically administered for a short period of time.