Eczema Treatment - Is there a Cure?
Eczema is a type of dermatitis where the upper skin layers are inflamed. There is drying of the skin with periodically appearing rashes. Eczema occurs more in young children and in infants although it can set it in at any age. Though there is no complete cure for eczema as of now, it is definitely possible to have eczema treatment to alleviate the symptoms and keep them under control.
There are various types of eczema, a few of which include atopic eczema, contact allergic dermatitis, xerotic eczema, seborrhoeic eczema, etc. Although the exact causative factors for eczema is not known, some forms like atopic eczema have a hereditary origin while some like contact dermatitis is believed to have an origin related to some trigger factor.
While a complete cure for eczema has still not been found the protein that is responsible for dry skin in eczema has been located. This finding has promising results towards finding a proper and complete eczema treatment. At present, only the symptoms can be kept in check by various methods some of which are described below.
It is very important to keep the skin moisturized to prevent it from drying and beginning to itch. For this reason, emollients are advised to be used which will help in keeping the water content within the body. This is best advised to be used on the skin right after taking a shower or a bath. Some of these can even be used while taking a bath. These emollients are best used twice in a day. Ointments are preferred for their long lasting effect in comparison to creams but one disadvantage is they are messy.
Another important factor to prevent episodes of dry skin and other problems associated with eczema is to avoid the use of harsh soaps and detergents. It is best if an unscented soap that is made of an oil base is used. It is advisable to perform a patch test while trying out a new soap.
It is best advised to keep the environment clean and free from any dust mites as they can trigger the symptoms of eczema. If there are carpets in the house, it is best to switch to hard surfaces and avoid the use of carpets that can house many dust mites.
Mild to strong steroidal creams are prescribed depending on the severity of inflammatory symptoms. It is best not to retain these creams on the skin for long periods of time as they can have adverse effects on the skin. In very severe cases, steroid containing tablets may be prescribed for short durations to reduce the symptoms. Immune suppressants are another line of therapy that is being tried out lately.
The skin lesions tend to get infected very easily. If any infections set in, antibiotics may be prescribed to counter the infection. Antihistamines are sometimes advised to help reduce itching.
Even though a total cure has still not been established and a lot of studies is going on in finding one, there are many forms of eczema treatment that has helped those suffering from eczema find effective regression of symptoms.