Treating Eczema

Eczema and psoriasis can be tricky to diagnose and frustratingly slow to eradicate. For the fastest relief, seek a dermatologist skilled in eczema and psoriasis treatment. Your doctor has a powerful arsenal of creams, oral medications, and eczema treatment options that can help you with your itchy skin, skin rashes, itchy scalp, and other symptoms.

Avoiding eczema triggers

Most forms of skin eczema, especially eczema in a child, have an allergic component. Your first priority is to avoid contact with the triggering substance. Your dermatologist may recommend an elimination diet to determine if a food allergy is involved. For example, skin eczema can occur when foods high in nickel (such as chocolate, broccoli, beans, lentils and soy) are consumed. Nickel-containing items that may come in contact with your skin include trouser snaps, zippers, undergarment hooks, scissors, coins, and watchband buckles. Avoid cookware that contains nickel, and wear only jewelry that is yellow gold, fine (100%) silver, niobium or platinum.

Eczema Treatment Creams

Most forms of atopic eczema and atopic dermatitis respond to topical steroid creams, which help relieve itchy skin and reduce inflammation. Your dermatologist can prescribe eczema medicine that is significantly more effective than over-the-counter cortisone creams. Corticosteroid creams should not be taken for more than two weeks, or thinning of the skin may result. Especially with eczema in a child, you should taper each course, as a sudden stop often initiates a new outbreak. Many dermatologists will also prescribe an antihistamine to be taken during severe flare-ups.

Non-steroidal topical immunomodulators are the newest eczema and psoriasis treatments. They are preferred treatment for eczema in a child. If you develop a secondary infection, topical antibiotics may be prescribed. Baby eczema is usually not treated, as it is self-resolving.

Keeping the skin moisturized is important. Experiment with a variety of hypoallergenic emollients until you find one that works best. One person's eczema lotion may not work at all for another. Your body is unique: Be patient and work through possible solutions thoughtfully.

Avoid stress

Stress aggravates most forms of skin eczema and psoriasis. Yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises often help. Consider alternative eczema medicine including herbal remedies and acupuncture.

Treating different types of eczema

Treatment varies for different kinds of eczema. Refer to the following list for guidelines, but remember that a doctor is your best bet for diagnosing and treating chronic eczema:

• Atopic dermatitis or atopic eczema symptoms are treated with eczema creams containing moisturizers and corticosteroids, sometimes in combination with antihistamines.
• Pompholyx and dishidrotic eczema blisters can be dried with vinegar compresses. Avoid further contact with nickel or nickel-containing foods, and apply prescription-strength topical corticosteroid cream. For severe outbreaks, antihistamines taken in conjunction with the steroid-based eczema cream can be effective.

• Allergic contact dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis and discoid eczema treatment starts with avoiding the irritating or allergenic substance. Dermatologists can provide you with a test kit to determine if costume jewelry, cooking vessels, belt buckles and other metal items contain nickel. Soothe outbreaks with steroidal eczema medicines and antihistamines.
• Infantile eczema symptoms will usually fade within a month or two. Moisturizers can speed recovery of baby eczema, and dietary changes are sometimes beneficial.
• Eczema herpeticum is potentially fatal disease in which herpes infects an existing eczema outbreak. It is particularly dangerous to infants. If symptoms include fever and painful, blood-filled lesions with a punched-out appearance, see a dermatologist immediately. Treatment is usually with acyclovir, an anti-herpes drug.
• Adult seborrhoeic eczema is relieved with anti-fungal creams applied to the itchy scalp and other affected areas.
• Varicose eczema symptoms should receive immediate medical attention. Treatment consists of support stockings, steroidal eczema creams and keeping the feet elevated.