How Can You Treat Your Itchy, Embarrassing Eczema?

Health & Medical Blog

If you find yourself regularly dealing with the itchy, red, and scaly patches of skin that mark an eczema outbreak, you're not alone -- in fact, so many individuals suffer from this condition that October has been dubbed Eczema Awareness Month. However, being among company may not help ease your itchiness or embarrassment about your skin's appearance. Fortunately, there are now a number of effective options to help you deal with the physical and emotional discomfort of severe eczema. Read on to learn more about some tried-and-true (as well as brand new) ways for you to manage this skin condition.

What current remedies are most effective against eczema?

There are two primary eczema treatments -- oral medications and topical cremes or ointments. Most oral medications designed to reduce the inflammation associated with eczema are corticosteroids, which dampen your body's immune response and prevent your skin cells from reacting to environmental factors in such an extreme way. Topical cremes can help relieve the itching your eczema can cause, as well as help heal chapped or peeling skin and prevent infection. Certain types of cremes can also reduce surface redness and inflammation.

However, there are some alternatives for those who are reluctant to take steroid-based medications due to unwanted side effects. Because some types of eczema can be caused by an adverse reaction to certain soaps, skin care ingredients, and environmental allergens, you may have some luck by visiting an immunologist to be tested for allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients. By identifying the specific substances to which you're especially sensitive, you can then make the determination whether to pursue allergy shots to help decrease sensitivity, or simply be more careful about reading labels and avoiding the ingredients that cause you problems.

What new developments in eczema treatment are taking place?

Because so many Americans find themselves dealing with eczema at some point in their lives, researchers are anxiously working on a global cure for this condition, as a patented remedy would likely have an enormous potential sales market. One development appears promising -- researchers have recently developed a way to individually target each eczema sufferer's specific immunological profile. Although this technology is still in the early stages, it could allow immunologists to work with patients to craft a specific cocktail of medications or topical cremes that will take effect more quickly for that individual patient, rather than putting individuals through the trial and error that often marks current attempts at eczema treatment

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14 October 2015

Finding the Right Healthcare: Putting Families First

A few years ago, I experienced a huge health scare with my blood pressure. My doctor at the time didn't offer evening or late night care, which forced me to visit the local emergency room for help. Although it may seem like a small thing to some people, not having access to my doctor when I needed it really bothered me. It bothered me so much that I searched for a new doctor after my child was born. Now, I'm happy with my family's new physician. The doctor offers after-hour care, which is a wonderful thing for us. My blog offers tips on how to find the right doctor for your family, as well as many other services you might need one day. So, please read through the blog for the information you need now.