Immediate relief is the first priority in treating eczema. Since the condition affects infants and children most often, their acute discomfort deserves immediate attention. Doctors can suggest a number of lotions and creams which can sooth red and prurient skin and some remedies are available on retail shelves, which parents can buy without prescriptions. However, the latter are generally more suited for adults with skin eruptions, since safety data is generally lacking in the case of pediatric patients. Care givers should make every effort to keep sufferers from becoming irritated by and anxious about acute skin conditions, because such emotions will only exacerbate the distress.
Addressing the root cause is as important as providing relief in treating eczema. The immune system is most often at fault. This is not fully developed during the first decade of life, so the body may react excessively to any source of infection or antigen in the environment. Parents, who provide intensive care for infants and children, are in best positions to know if their wards have been exposed to new surroundings and ingested material, which could make the skin react violently. Excessive stress is also a common reason for eruptions, especially in adults. Auto-immune disorders continue in to adult life, if they are inherited, so some people experience recurring episodes of eczema.
Strategies in Treating Eczema
A doctor can combine medication with other methods in treating eczema. Antibiotics, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and barrier substances which hydrate the skin and heal damage, are the major classes of therapeutic substances available for prescriptions. It is best if a culture and microscopic examination of the eruptions yield information for a confirmed diagnosis, or else a doctor has to try all the therapeutic approaches in combination. Phototherapy is suitable for some cases, and combines well with drugs for symptomatic relief.
Alternative and complementary therapies are popular in treating eczema. Some of them address mental distress, while others simply have a generally soothing effect. Some medicinal plant extracts are known to be efficient agents for keeping the skin moist, which is important because unnatural drying is part of the eczema problem. The safety of herbal remedies has not been conclusively established, so it is best to choose topical products rather than things which you have to swallow. Alternative and complimentary medicine without physician support may be especially risky for infants and for children. Everyone should be vigilant about adverse reactions, and discontinue herbal treatments which worsen the condition, or which do not prevent relapses.
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