Atopic dermatitis (eczema)

There are many reasons for itching. In this article we will asume that you are itching because of your Atopic Dermatitis.

The moment you find yourself thinking that the itching is going to drive you mad, you should immediately also decide if you are applying enough moisturizers.

Remember Atopic Dermatitis is not a condition that can be cured. The goal of treatment is to provide relief and control, just like it is with many other conditions like asthma and hayfever for example.

Therefore, you should assume that you will have to apply moisturizers daily for possibly the rest of your life! Yes, the dermatitis can clear up eventually, but if it does happen, it will not be due to any actual treatment.

All of the above might sound negative, but the good news is that most people can control their eczema and itching to such an extent that it does not really represent much of a problem anymore.

Ok, so how much moisturizers should be applied? Enough so that your skin is not dry. For some people that will mean once daily applications and for others 5-6 daily applications in addition to using emollient bath additives or emollient shower gels.

If you do not like your emollient then experiment with others until you find one that works for you. There are propably more that 50 different moisturizers one the market today.

Once you can honestly say that you are applying your moisturizers frequently enough, so that your skin is not dry, then other treatments options comes into play.

The first line treatment for flare-ups of Atopic Dermatits and other forms of eczema is topical corticosteroids. Other treatment modalities like Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus has also come to the fore recently.

Please see the article on “How to apply steroid creams correctly” for details about the treatment of flare-ups. Remember, moisturizers first and foremost and only then do the other treatment options come into play.