Eczema Treatments
Eczema, also sometimes known as dermatitis, is the term for a group of conditions which cause irritated or inflamed skin. The most common type is called atopic eczema which seems to be inherited and concentrates on the parts of skin which crease (such as the backs of knees or the inside of the elbows). About one in five children will have atopic eczema but many do grow out of it. The number is reduced to about one in ten adults. If you suffer from such a skin condition, you’ll know how much it can affect your life, both physically and mentally, therefore the first thing you need to know is what eczema treatments are available and how they work.
Eczema Treatment Options
- Although it is thought that there is no actual cure for eczema, there are many ways to reduce the inflammation and itching. If you ask your local G.P., he/she will be able to prescribe a number of medicines to help reduce your symptoms.
- Emollients are the most common treatment – these are moisturisers which hydrate and soothe the skin. They should be applied daily, directly to the skin and can be in the form of lotions, oils or washes.
- At the same time as using an emollient, you may be prescribed a mild steroid cream which can calm flare-ups of the condition by suppressing the body’s inflammatory response.
- If you have a more serious form of eczema, you may be prescribed a stronger form of medicine such as a stronger steroid cream, an oral steroid, immunosuppressant tablets or antibiotics. These should not be taken for any length of time and can only be used under strict medical supervision.
- Many people turn to complimentary treatments such as homeopathy, but again caution should be used even when taking herbal medicines – only approach trusted and accredited practitioners as some herbal medicines have been known to have detrimental side effects.
- Of course, creams and emollients are a short term answer to calming inflamed, irritated skin. While they do bring relie, there is a school of thought that eczema can be banished totally from your life by changing your lifestyle and your diet. This is the ‘you-are-what-you-eat’ theory and many testimonials support it. By changing your diet to have a more balanced acid/alkali ratio (with a slight tendency towards the alkaline side) you will be able to reduce the flare-ups. Eat natural foods and get all the necessary minerals and vitamins through vegetables combined with a little meat and fish.
- Don’t be caught up in the mentality that you have eczema and there is nothing you can do – turn that negativity into positive thinking. Believe you can overcome the problem, eat as healthily as you can by avoiding processed foods (like ready made meals and diet drinks with added sweeteners). Try more vegetables – one person who used to suffer from excessive eczema changed her diet and swore by having a rich green smoothie every evening incorporating vegetables like kale, cabbage and carrots (with an apple to sweeten the taste a bit) and now claims to be free of skin problems. Combine this diet and positive thinking with a little more exercise and maybe you’ll not only be finally rid of skin irritation, but you’ll also reap the benefits of an all round healthy life. Eczema treatments are available – just find the one that suits you best.
