How is eczema treated?
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These studies suggest that eczema treatment can include avoiding skin drying, using emollients, topical corticosteroids, specific medications like abrocitinib, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and potentially Chinese herbal medicine or homeopathy, while probiotics and antibiotics may not be effective or could be harmful.
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Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation and itching. Treatment strategies for eczema are diverse and aim to manage symptoms and improve patients' quality of life.
- Probiotics have been investigated as a potential treatment for eczema, but evidence suggests they are not effective, with some risk of adverse events such as infections and bowel ischemia.
- Antibiotics, both oral and topical, do not show a beneficial effect on eczema severity and may even worsen outcomes when used for children with clinically infected eczema in the community.
- Oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, specifically abrocitinib, have shown efficacy in combination with topical therapy for moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, improving symptoms and quality of life, although long-term impacts need further study.
- Traditional treatments for eczema include the use of emollients, topical steroids, and in some cases, systemic corticosteroids. However, immunosuppressive drugs like cyclophosphamide and azathioprine have been used in severe cases with some success .
- Homeopathic medicines such as sulphur and graphites have been reported to positively treat eczema without the aid of conventional emollients and steroids.
- Chinese herbal medicine is another alternative treatment for eczema, but more large-scale clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy.
- In the elderly, eczema treatment includes avoiding skin drying, using emollients, topical corticosteroids for flare-ups, and treating bacterial infections, with severe cases possibly requiring medical advice or hospital admission .
- Natural products and herbal extracts, such as St. John’s wort, licorice, and evening primrose oil, have been used to treat eczema, with some showing promising results in clinical or preclinical studies.
In conclusion, the treatment of eczema is multifaceted, involving a combination of skin care, medication, and sometimes alternative therapies. While probiotics and antibiotics may not be effective or recommended, especially in children, other treatments like JAK inhibitors and immunosuppressive drugs show promise for more severe cases. Homeopathic and herbal remedies are also explored, but more research is needed to establish their efficacy. Emollients and topical corticosteroids remain a cornerstone of eczema management, particularly in the elderly.
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