There are many prescription and over the counter eczema treatment
regimens available to the eczema sufferer today. Eczema treatments
mainly exist to help combat eczema symptoms such as inflammation,
itching, and dryness of the skin associated with this very irritating
and disheartening condition. As with all prescription and over the
counter treatments, one should always ask if they are safe.
Prescription
and over the counter eczema treatment regimens come in many forms such
as itch-relief medication, moisturizers, corticosteroids, antibiotics,
light therapy, and dietary monitoring. Each of these eczema treatments
is specialized in that each targets a particular symptom or aspect of
the condition. Although none serves as a permanent treatment, some do
provide symptom relief. Moisturizers are a very prominent over the
counter treatment category. Moisturizers can protect and help the skin
retain its natural moisture, which is necessary to reduce the symptoms
of eczema. Since dry skin is a hallmark of eczema, moisturizers are of
the upmost importance and should be included in the eczema sufferer's
treatment plan. Emollients are part of the moisturizing category
and come in creams and ointments. Creams and ointments each have a
different effect on the skin and both should be applied on dry skin.
Creams are absorbed into the skin very quickly and therefore need to be
applied on a continuous basis. In contrast, ointments remain on the
surface of the skin for a longer time of duration and therefore do not
need to be applied on a continual basis like creams.
The most
common and prominent eczema symptom is that of the "unbearable" itch.
Antihistamines, both over the counter and prescription, are often used
to combat this eczema symptom. Another prescription and over the
counter eczema treatment regimen category is corticosteroids.
Corticosteroids come in both creams and ointments. The word part
"steroid" should send up a signal flag when considering using this type
of treatment. Although corticosteroids do bring temporary symptom
relief, prolonged application causes the skin to become paper thin and
fragile. The eczema condition often worsens after utilizing this
treatment. There is also the danger of steroids being absorbed into the
body which can cause an array of side effects. Antibiotics are
another category of prescription eczema treatments and are used when an
eczema sufferer has developed an infection due to scratching and
breaking of the skin. Through the broken or scratched skin, an "invader"
intrudes and an infection ensues.
Light therapy is a form of
eczema treatment and utilizes ultraviolet light and PUVA light, which is
also called chemophototherapy. It is often utilized to treat atopic
eczema or atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis. It is thought that
UV light therapy affects the immune system by preventing the exaggerated
response of the immune system to allergens. While this type of therapy
may temporarily help to reduce eczema symptoms, once again, potential
side effects should be considered. UV light is a known skin cancer
contributor. The above prescription and over the counter eczema
treatment regimens are just a sampling of the many available treatments.
Before entering into a treatment plan, the drawbacks as well as the
advantages should be considered carefully. As with eczema and other
diseases, the main focus is usually that of just treating "symptoms".
While one may find temporary relief of the many frustrating symptoms of
eczema, the only permanent solution is eliminating eczema at its root
cause.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2827514
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