According to the Mayo Clinic, eczema or atopic dermatitis is a general term for chronic skin inflammation characterized by the presence of redness, itching and fluid-filled bumps that become moist and ooze. Eczema is a condition that affects people of all ages and both sexes.
According to the Nemours Foundation, eczema is inherited or passed through genes. It further states that eczema is fairly common, and it will affect about one in 10 people in the world.
However, there are many things which a person can do to soothe the symptoms, making eczema easier to live with.
Corticosteroid Creams or Ointments
Corticosteroid creams or ointments can treat eczema. According to the Mayo Clinic, corticosteroid creams or ointments can ease scaling and relieve itching. A doctor can prescribe them or a person can obtain low-potency ones without a prescription. The side effects of long-term or repeated use of corticosteroid cream include skin irritation or discoloration, thinning of the skin, infections and stretch marks on the skin. The Mayo Clinic advises people suffering from eczema to always consult a physician before using any topical corticosteroid.
Immunomodulators
Immunomodulators can also treat eczema. According to the Mayo Clinic, immunomodulators can help in maintaining normal skin texture and reducing flares of eczema. The Mayo Clinic further reports that the US Food and Drug Administration recommends the long-term use of immunomodulators such as elidel and protopic, only when other treatment methods have failed or are not tolerated by a patient suffering from eczema. Immunomodulators are drugs that strengthen the immune system to fight against inflammation or other diseases. They are only available by prescription and for adults and children over the age of 2.
Light Therapy
Light therapy can treat eczema either alone or in combination with medications. According to the Mayo Clinic, light therapy is one of the simplest and easiest forms of phototherapy that uses natural or artificial light to expose a patient’s skin in controlled amounts of natural sunlight. The Mayo Clinic advises such patients to consult a physician before opting for light therapy and also advises them to avoid long-term light therapy because of its harmful effects such as premature skin aging and increased risk of skin cancer. A person can get light therapy either through small amounts of natural sunlight or by purchasing artificial ultraviolet light equipment.
