Since we do not know the underlying cause of eczema, we are left to treat the symptoms of the condition. The most effective eczema treatment for you may have to be found by trial and error. Sometimes one treatment works well for one person but not for the next.
This condition results in a red irritation of the skin. While the condition was uncommon before World War II, eleven percent of the population in some countries today will receive medical treatment for the condition at some time in life.
The primary treatment of eczema is with corticosteroids. While this treatment is sometimes effective it also has some negative side effects. The steroids can cause thinning of the skin. In delicate areas, the creams should be used in the lowest effective dose. If the steroid gets into the eye, it can cause cataracts. In addition, use of these creams can lead to skin infections.
There are several alternative treatments that can also be tried. Many of the alternative treatments have fewer side effects and some may be just as effective as the treatment with prescription corticosteroids.
One method that was tried during the 1980s was behavior modification. Since suffers of the condition can begin to scratch habitually, irritating the skin further, behavior modification helps them to stop the scratching to allow the skin to heal. This method of treatment was found to be somewhat effective in many cases.
Light therapy, using ultraviolet light has been used with some patients. Ultraviolet light is ineffective along but when used with certain drugs that allow it to become more effective may give relief. Use of light therapy can increase the chances of skin cancer.
Changing your diet can also lessen the effects of eczema. Eggs, corn, dairy, coffee and nuts are all suspected in increasing the outbreaks of eczema. Try eliminating all of these from the diet and see if the condition improves. If it does, you may eventually try adding them back one at a time to see if you have a food allergy that is responsible for your eczema.
Oatmeal offers a calming effect to the itching skin in many conditions. Mixed with water, it can be blended into a cream to apply to the affected areas. It may also be dissolved in the bath water to prevent itching. Oatmeal soaps and lotions may also be effective.
Seawater as well as other salt waters have been used and shown effective when children suffer from eczema. The antiseptic properties of salt water may help to heal the outbreaks; however, use of seawater can often be painful at first.
Sometimes Chinese herbs are used in the treatment of eczema. There have been some tests ran using the herbs, but not with the scientifically preferred blind tests. Thus the improvement that was seen may have simply been psychosomatic.
Since the underlying cause of eczema is not known, we must continue to treat the symptoms. Once we understand this condition, better we may be able to develop an eczema treatment that addresses the actual cause of the disease. Once the cause has been taken care of, the subject may no longer suffer from the itching and pain of eczema.
To find out the newest information about short and long term eczema solutions for your skin, you can look on the Net. There are tons of creams from eczema that can give you the clear skin you want. Eczema treatment takes as long as two weeks or less.
