Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that appears as a flaky, scaly, and red patch. This condition is characterized by scaling, itching, and burning of the skin. Eczema is usually located on the elbows, face, arms, and knees. The treatments for eczema are more or less the same for all types of eczema. Your doctor will usually prescribe an emollient to moisturize the skin. However, if the skin is inflamed, a topical corticosteroid is applied to reduce inflammation.
Emollients are used as treatment of eczema. These are non-cosmetic moisturizers that come in the form of ointments, creams, gels and lotions. They help the skin to be more comfortable ad less itchy. Creams have a mixture of water and fat and they feel light and cool to the skin. Because of this, many eczema sufferers prefer creams for daily use. Ointments have no preservatives. However, they can be greasy and some people may find them unacceptable for cosmetic reasons. Their true power is that they trap water in the skin.
Soap substitute are acceptable in the treatment of eczema as they do not dry your skin out, unlike soap. Emollient soap substitutes do not foam but they do the job of soap well. Substitutes may be applied before showering, bathing, or washing, or even when you are in the swimming pool. If you suffer from eczema, you must avoid bubble baths as they dry the skin and are potential irritants. It is advisable to bathe everyday, but only use emollient bath oils instead of bubble baths. As finding the right emollient to use is trial and error, it is safe to use the emollient that is used on your child.
Topical corticosteroids are also used in the treatment of eczema. Steroids are natural hormones produced in the body. Steroids used in the treatment of eczema are synthetic. Steroids speed up the healing process of the skin and reduce inflammation. They also make the skin less hot, itchy, red, and sore. Now the question is: are topical steroids safe? Indeed, they are. When used properly and under the doctor's supervision, topical steroids are an effective treatment for eczema.
An eczema sufferer is recommended to apply a steroid twice daily. Sometimes, a doctor may prescribe three times. Nowadays, there are some steroids that only need to be applied once daily to control eczema. There are also some natural treatments for eczema and a lot of sufferers attest to the effectiveness of those natural eczema therapies.
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