Eczema Treatment

Although there is no cure for eczema there are many treatments that can help relieve the symptoms.  There are also a number of things you can do at home to help keep your eczema under control.

Medical Treatments for eczema

Good, sensible skin care is an important part of managing eczema. In many instances this can be enough to manage milder cases of eczema.

• First line eczema treatments: Doctors will usually start patients on the mot simple treatments. For example they may suggest a room-temperature bath which will help remove crusted skin. Apply a good moisturizer immediately afterwards, this will help to retain the skins natural moisture.

• Corticosteroid creams: Corticosteroid creams and ointments have been the mainstay of eczema treatment for many years. There are OTC creams available for milder cases. If your eczema is more severe your doctor may suggest a prescription only cream. In the most severe cases and usually only when other treatments have failed your doctor may prescribe oral corticosteroids.

• Immunomodulators: Newer drugs called topical immunomodulators are available to help treat eczema. These medicines help control inflammation and reduce immune system reactions when applied to the skin. Talk to your doctor about whether these may be right for you.

• Oral antihistamines: Oral antihistamines will sometimes help to relieve eczema symtpoms and can be usefull at nightime. They can cause drowsiness and may help you to sleep despite the eczema itching 

• Other Treatments: In the most extreme instances of eczema, your doctor or dermatolgist may suggest ultraviolet light therapy. There are also drugs that supress the immune system and may be tried for adults. Your doctor would be the best person to talk to if other more traditional forms of treatment have not helped.

Supplement treatments for eczema

Research suggests that people who have eczema don’t process essential fatty acids from food normally, leading to low levels of a fatty acid called gamma-linoleic acid (GLS). This helps your immune system work properly, so taking a supplement could help reduce the skin inflammation associated with eczema. It can take around three months for GLA to have an effect on the body once you start taking supplements.

• Evening primrose oil, starflower oil and blackcurrant seed oil all contain GLA. A number of studies have found that taking these supplements cold not only reduce the number of eczema flare-ups but also how severe they are and the length of time they last. An analysis of nine scientific trials found that GLA was also helpful in reducing itching.

• Fish Oils may also help eczema. Fish oils reduce levels of leukotriene B4, a compound that has been linked to eczema.

• B Vitamins may play a supportive role in managing eczema. Deficiencies in some B vitamins, especially biotin and inositol, have been linked to skin disorders, while other B vitamins are needed to mainitain healthy skin and good circulation.

Herbal treatments for eczema

Many herbs have traditionally been used to help relieve the symptoms of eczema.

• Liquorice root contains a substance called glycyrrhizinic acid, which is believed to help reduce the symptoms of eczema. It can be taken internally or applied directly to the skin.

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