Treatments Your Provider May Prescribe
Topical or oral (systemic) medications can include:
- Topical steroid creams or ointments to treat areas of limited (localized) eczema. Use lower-strength steroids on the face and medium-to-high-strength steroids on the trunk and on the arms and legs.
- Be careful when using topical steroids in skin folds and blocked (occluded) areas because of the risk of thinning of the skin (atrophy).
- Medications that allow you to reduce steroid exposure (steroid-sparing agents), such as topical tacrolimus or pimecrolimus, may be used for milder disease or for treating sensitive areas, such as the face. These medications are not approved for use with children under the age of 2. These medications have a warning that their use may have a small risk of causing cancer.
- Oral antihistamines to reduce itching.
- For more extensive disease, light therapy may be recommended. People whose condition does not improve with other treatments may take oral medications (such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus) to hold back (suppress) the immune system, preventing allergic reactions.
- If an infection in the affected area (superimposed infection) may be present, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed.
- In patients who have multiple areas of broken skin or a history of bacterial skin infections, dilute bleach baths may be prescribed.
Self-Care Guidelines
