Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis is an acute skin condition that can not only create discomfort, but also messes up the natural look of your skin. The rashes caused by eczema are very itchy and painful.
These 5 unorthodox methods to treat eczema can help you with the condition, and boost skin recovery.
1. Apply Corticosteroid Cream
Very often doctors would prescribe you corticosteroid creams or ointments. You should apply such creams only after moisturizing, as overuse might lead to side effects like thinning skin.
There are other types of creams that contain drugs like pimecrolimus and tacrolimus. These drugs might negatively affect your immune system. People who are unable to control their skin reaction should use creams with such strong drugs. If your skin is at good condition usually, then you should avoid these creams. If your doctor advises you to use these creams, directly apply on your skin after moisturizing. while using such products, it is recommended to avoid strong sunlight.
While some of these drugs have black box warnings about potential cancer risk, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology has found that the ratio of risk-to-benefit of these drugs are similar to other conventional treatments that are suggested for treating eczema.
2. Light Therapy
People who don’t get to see positive results with tropical treatment should choose this option. Light therapy for eczema is also known as phototherapy. This process involves exposing the affected skin area to controlled amounts of natural sunlight. There are other forms of light therapy as well, UVA and UVB for example. Light therapy can be used for eczema treatment all by itself, or along with other forms of medication.
Light therapy should be used as a short-term solution for eczema. If you think you are not getting results in a short span of time, you should try other alternatives as there is a possibility that extended use of light therapy might cause cancer. You should definitely consult your doctor before starting to take the therapy.
3. Wet Dressing
This is one of the most effective and intensive treatments for severe levels of dermatitis. In this process, the affected skin area is wrapped with topical corticosteroids, along with wet bandages. In most of the cases this is done in hospitals, specifically for people who have widespread lesions. As this process requires intensive labor and expert nursing knowledge, you should not try this at home. You might end up worsening your skin condition if you don’t know how to do it properly.
4. Apply Dupixent
This method was not approved by FDA for quite some time, but recently FDA has given green signal to this new, injectable biologic known as dupilumab. People who don’t respond to regular treatment options are prescribed this medication. If you fall into this category, then you might give it a try. But being a new medicine, it doesn’t have a proven track record yet. The high expenses of the medication might make it unaffordable for a lot of patients.
5. Use Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel is quite well known for its medicinal properties. The aloe vera plant has been used to treat many different health conditions since ancient times. One of the common uses of aloe vera is soothing eczema. According to researchers, aloe vera gel contains wound-healing, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and immunity boosting properties.
Due to the antibacterial properties, aloe vera gel can prevent various forms of skin infection, and even soothe eczema. If a person has cracked, dry skin, aloe vera can comfort broken skin and boost the healing process.
You should apply aloe vera gel products that come with few other ingredients. Products that contain colors, fragrances, preservatives, and artificial ingredients should be avoided. Applying such products on sensitive skin will lead to worsening the eczema condition by quite some margin.
While applying aloe vera gel, you should start with a very small amount, and apply gently on your skin. Too much aloe vera might cause skin irritation. In most of the cases aloe vera gel is effective and safe for children and adults.
Conclusion
The bad news is, eczema doesn’t have any cure. But the good news is, there are multiple ways to manage the symptoms. It is very much possible to keep this acute skin condition under control, if you lead a healthy lifestyle.
If home treatments don’t work, then you should try more intensive therapies and medication. But you must consult your doctor before deciding that.