• (1)
• 
• 

The usual treatment consists of three parts:

• Avoid irritants to the skin and other 'triggers' wherever possible.
• Emollients (Moisturisers) - use every day to help prevent inflammation developing.
• Topical steroids (steroid creams and ointments) - use when inflammation flares-up.

Treatment part 1 - avoid irritants and 'triggers' where possible

Many people with eczema have flare-ups of from time to time for no apparent reason. However, some flare-ups may be caused (triggered) or made worse by irritants to the skin, or other factors. It is commonly advised to:

• Avoid soaps, bubble baths, etc, when you wash. They can dry out the skin and make it more prone to irritation. Instead, use a soap substitute plus a bath/shower emollient (see below).
• Wear cotton clothes next to the skin rather than irritating fabrics such as wool. However, it is probably the smoothness of the material rather than the type of the material which helps. Some smooth man-made fabrics are probably just as good as cotton.
• Avoid getting too hot or too cold as extremes of temperature can irritate the skin.
• After you wash clothes with detergent, rinse them well. Some 'biological' detergents are said by some people to be irritating. But there is little proof that commonly used detergents which are used in the normal way make eczema worse.

• Back
• Next: What is the usual treatment for atopic eczema? Part 2

• Comment (1)
• Send to a friend
• Print: Article |  Page