Over 31 million Americans suffer from eczema, a chronic inflammatory skin ailment. Its defining characteristics are red, extremely itchy, cracked, and rough skin patches.
The most prevalent kind, atopic dermatitis, usually manifests in early childhood or infancy. “Atopic” describes an inherited or personal propensity to develop allergic reactions such as hay fever, asthma, or food allergies.
While some children outgrow their eczema, more than half will continue to flare up until adulthood. Choosing the best course of action for your eczema is essential to long-term relief from upsetting flare-ups.
Based on the severity of the condition, this article examines the best ways to manage eczema symptoms and flare-ups.
- Eczema Body Lotion: corticosteroid-free Options
While there is no cure, you can manage eczema effectively with proper skin care and moisturization. For those looking to avoid steroids, some excellent over-the-counter corticosteroid-free eczema lotions can provide the best treatment for eczema.
A great option is to use a rich, fragrance-free body lotion formulated for very dry, sensitive skin. Specifically, look for a body lotion containing patented herbal plantain extract, which can quickly relieve symptoms caused by eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and dehydration. Plantain extract is a skin-soothing and medicinal plant with significant inhibitory effects, and you can use it in the topical treatment of skin inflammation.
When applying the eczema body lotion containing plantain extract, gently smooth it over affected areas immediately after bathing when the skin is still damp. This helps lock in moisture. Apply multiple times per day, especially after washing hands. Choose a lotion that is non-greasy and gets absorbed quickly.
Avoid irritants like fragrances and shower in lukewarm water instead of hot for best results. Keep showers brief as well. Pat dry skin and wait a few minutes before applying the eczema lotion. Wear soft, breathable fabrics next to the skin.
- Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors
Calcineurin inhibitors, for instance, Protopic and Elidel, form the second class of topical medications. The mode of action blocks the immune system reactions in the skin locally. It may be a good alternative to steroids for long-term eczema care—especially with thin or sensitive skin regions, such as the eyelids and face.
However, although similarly very effective with less risk of skin damage than steroids, it can increase the risk of skin cancer and therefore requires a prescription and monitoring.
While these topical Calcineurin medications prove helpful in treating eczema, especially on delicate skin, some concerns have been raised against them. One is the increased risk of skin cancer and lymphoma in their long-term usage.
The risk level is also open to debate, with some studies finding no increased risk. But doctors recommend the lowest effective dose possible. Cost, too, can be an issue since they are costlier than topical steroids.
They can also cause burning or stinging when applied initially. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are thus useful alternatives to steroids in the management of chronic eczema, with appropriate precautions and follow-up.
- Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies
Lifestyle and home remedies can control mild eczema to some extent. This incorporates avoiding allergens and irritants that cause outbreaks, using gentle products on sensitive skin, being well-hydrated, and reducing stress.
Common home remedies for eczema are oatmeal baths, using cool compresses on irritated skin, moisturizing with natural products such as coconut oil, and wrapping damp skin at night. Those not even mild to severe often need to be treated by medical therapy, but the basic steps and home remedies should be started with.
In so doing, you will help reinforce the basic elements that make skin resilient, reduce the likelihood of flare-ups, and nudge internal healing.
Meanwhile, more sophisticated solutions and pharmaceutical ointments cure more recalcitrant problems from the outside. Several weeks of home-based trials might be critical in demonstrating the value of basic remedies before stepping up to more potent last-resort treatments like biologics or oral immunosuppressants.
Therefore, a soft lifestyle, supportive home care, and traditional medical management, if required in a minimum of the medication overuse combination, could maximize long-term recovery.
- Phototherapy Treatments
Phototherapy involves exposing skin to ultraviolet A and B light under medical supervision to reduce inflammation and eczema symptoms. The most common type—narrow band UVB treatments—have become a mainstream option for moderate to severe cases not well controlled by other methods. It alters immune functioning in skin cells to dampen the exaggerated responses causing flares.
You can combine it with medications and continued skin care for lower doses and better results.
Since home light units have not proven very effective, in-office equipment like full-body booths, wands, laser, or LED devices allow controlled administration 1-5 times per week. Phototherapy takes longer to kick in than steroids, but benefits can last for months after finishing a course of treatments.
- Systemic Oral Medications
For moderate to severe eczema not adequately responding to other measures, oral systemic medications may be prescribed by a doctor. These include immunosuppressants like methotrexate, corticosteroids like prednisone, antivirals, and biologic injections targeting specific inflammatory pathways.
You can use phototherapy before progressing to systemic drugs due to their stronger immune-inhibiting effects. These medications have more safety concerns, like increased infection risk requiring close oversight.
Finding the lowest effective dose and pairing it with topical skin-directed care allows minimizing oral medication use. Hospitalization for eczema flares may also utilize these treatments.
- Complementary and Alternative Approaches
Various complementary approaches like dietary modifications, probiotics, herbal remedies, acupuncture, and mind-body practices may relieve eczema, especially when used alongside conventional treatments.
However, most naturopathic options lack robust clinical evidence, so should not replace standard care. Tracking symptoms while trialing alternatives helps determine if they offer tangible individual benefits before fully relying on unproven solutions to control eczema.
The Bottom Line
There is no need to become down or feel hopeless with a diagnosis of eczema because there is a variety of treatments available to help control symptoms. It’s not an instant, one-time approach, nor a permanent one.
However, by identifying the specific triggers and having a long-term management strategy, a person with eczema can comfortably lead an eczema-controlled life.
On the other hand, patience and adherence to treatments, open communication with your dermatologist, and skin health support through a comprehensive plan are the best courses to get your eczema under control.
