Treatment:

Treatment can vary depending on the appearance (stage) of the lesions. "Weeping" lesions, dry scaly lesions, or chronic dry, thickened lesions are each treated differently.

• Avoid anything that makes your symptoms worse. This may include food allergens and irritants such as wool and lanolin.
• When washing or bathing, keep water contact as brief as possible and use less soap than usual. After bathing, it is important to trap the moisture in the skin by applying lubricating cream on the skin while it is damp. Dry skin often makes the condition worse. Temperature changes and stress may cause sweating and aggravate the condition.
• Treat weeping lesions with soothing moisturizers, mild soaps, or wet dressings.
• Use mild anti-itch lotions or topical corticosteroids to soothe less severe or healing areas, or dry scaly lesions.
• You can treat chronic thickened areas with ointments or creams that contain tar compounds, powerful anti-inflammatory medicines, and ingredients that lubricate or soften the skin.
• Your health care provider may prescribe oral corticosteroids to reduce inflammation if the condition is severe.
• Medicines called topical immunomodulators (TIMs) may be prescribed in some cases. TIMs include tacrolimus (Protopic) and pimecrolimus (Elidel). These medications do not contain corticosteroids.

Expectations (prognosis):

Eczema is a chronic condition, but you can control it with treatment and by avoiding irritants. In children, it often clears up by early adulthood. In adults, it is generally a long-term or recurring condition.

Complications:

• Bacterial infections of the skin
• Permanent scars

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:

• Eczema does not respond to moisturizers or avoiding allergens
• Symptoms worsen or treatment is ineffective
• You have signs of infection (such as fever, redness, pain)