health

Treatment of eczema focuses on reducing itching (and therefore
scratching); lowering inflammation; and preventing flare-ups. The specific
medications that are used depend somewhat on the severity of the
patient’s symptoms.

Common treatments include:

• Moisturizers. Lubricating creams or ointments should be applied
  to the skin after bathing or showering to seal moisture in the upper
  layer of skin cells. The most effective moisturizers are those that
  contain petrolatum (petroleum jelly).
  
• Creams or powders that contain cortisone. Different formulations
  may be tried, as some people are allergic to the preservatives used
  to make the creams. These products should be discontinued
  during remissions because long-term use can cause skin irritation
  or discoloration, thinning of the skin, infections, and stretch
  marks on the skin.
  
• Severe eczema may be treated with oral antihistamines or oral steroid
  medications. The steroid drugs are effective in relieving itching but,
  like cortisone creams, they should not be used for long periods of
  time because of potentially serious side effects. These side effects
  include cataracts, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, lowered resistance
  to infections, high blood pressure, and thinning of the skin.
  
• Antibiotic creams or oral antibiotics. These may be prescribed if the
  patient develops a bacterial infection in broken or inflamed skin.
  
• Immunomodulators. This newer, prescription-only class of drugs
  is sometimes recommended for children over two years of age and
  adults. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a
  warning in 2006, however, that these drugs should be used only
  in patients who are not helped by other treatments, because of the
  risk of long-term damage to the immune system.
  
• Phototherapy. Phototherapy is the use of natural sunlight or ultraviolet
  light. While some patients benefit from phototherapy, it also
  speeds up aging of the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.
  Patients who want to try this approach to treating eczema should
  consult their doctor first.

Alternative treatments that are sometimes recommended for eczema
include evening primrose oil, vitamin therapy, various Chinese herbal
medications, and nutritional supplements, though none of these have
been scientifically proven effective.