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Subscribe NowEczema Management
TREATMENT
How to manage eczema
There is currently no cure for eczema. You may have heard that your eczema or your child’s eczema will go away as you get older, but this does not happen for everyone.
The good news is that there is lots you can do to manage eczema. It does not have to stop you or your child from enjoying life and doing the things you all want to do.
There are two treatments that work well together to manage eczema.
- Moisturising creams (’emollients’) to keep control.
- Flare control creams (usually topical corticosteroids, also refered to as steroid creams) to get control.
Both treatments are needed. This is because they help control eczema in different ways. When these two treatments are used well, they will control most eczema. To help plan your eczema management treatments download the Eczema Care Plan.
Sometimes other treatments are needed and we go into more detail elsewhere on our website and in our Eczema Care Online Toolkit.
Main ways you can manage your eczema:
Flare Control Creams - Get control
These creams are used to get control of eczema. They are:
- Used to treat flare-ups where the skin is more sore or itchy than normal
These creams are usually topical corticosteroid creams or ointments (often called steroid creams). Sometimes people are prescribed other flare control creams.
Most people with eczema will need to use flare control creams at some point.
If flare control creams are recommended by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist;
- Use immediately at first sign of flare.
- Apply a generous amount of flare control treatment to all affected areas, not just the worst parts. Do this before using your moisturiser, to get the best effect.
- Keep using every day, until eczema has gone and the skin feels smooth and itch free.
Are they safe?
Yes. Studies show that flare control creams are safe when used following the instructions above. They should be applied to the affected skin only.
For more information see: Topical Corticosteroids for Eczema Flare Control
Moisturising Creams - Keep control
When you have eczema, your skin loses moisture easily. Dry skin can lead to a new flare, infection or make existing eczema harder to manage. Moisturising every day helps protect and heal the skin barrier.
You may need to try a few different moisturisers to find the one that works best on your skin.
- Apply moisturisers once or twice daily, usually as a long-term preventive particularly when the skin is dry.
- AVOID moisturisers that contain food-related products (like nuts, coconut, milk), essential oils, aqueous cream containing SLS or benzalkonium chloride
- Avoid perfumed bubble bath and scented bath salts.
- You can add non-perfumed bath oil to bath water, but extra care will be needed because of slipperiness.
More eczema management tips
Avoiding triggers and looking after your mental health well-being is also important.
Here are some more eczema treatments your health professional may recommend:
- Wet wraps and cool compresses can help ease disrupted sleep caused by itchy skin.
- A dilute bleach bath can help treat infected eczema and also reduce risk of infection.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed for eczema that has become infected.
- Antihistamines are not helpful for eczema itch but may be useful if you have allergies.
For more information, ‘how to’ videos see our Helpful Links.
Here are some more eczema treatments your health professional may recommend:
- Wet wraps and cool compresses can help ease disrupted sleep caused by itchy skin.
- A dilute bleach bath can help treat infected eczema and also reduce risk of infection.
- Antibiotics may be prescribed for eczema that has become infected.
- Antihistamines are not helpful for eczema itch but may be useful if you have allergies
For more information, ‘how to’ videos see our Helpful Links.
Treatment and Management
New & emerging eczema treatments
Medical researchers continue to strive for new treatments that provide relief from, what can be, an overwhelming experience. Be sure to ask your dermatologist about potential options and feel free to seek guidance from Eczema Support Australia. Eczema Support Australia is committed to helping people living with eczema overcome difficulties and thrive in their community.
Treatment and Management
Emollients, moisturisers & creams
- Emollients are medical moisturisers that form a vital part of therapy for all dry skin conditions.
- Topical steroids are aerosols, creams, gels, lotions and solutions that contain corticosteroids and can be applied to the skin.
- Many natural creams, lotions and oils claim to be good for eczema, but not all are considered safe.
- AVOID moisturisers that contain food-related products (like nuts, coconut, milk), essential oils, aqueous cream containing SLS or benzalkonium chloride
Treatment and Management
Wet dressings and bleach bathing
- Wet dressings help to reduce itch by cooling the skin. The itch is worse when the skin is hot and inflamed.
- Bleach baths assist in reducing the number of bacteria on the skin so eczema does not get infected. Regular bleach bathing may help manage eczema in children and adults, resulting in reduced inflammation and itch.
Download Wet Dressings Information Sheet
Download Bleach Bathing Information Sheet
Treatment and Management
Hand eczema
Hand eczema is an inflammatory condition that can cause itchy blisters, cracks, or rashes on the hands.
It can go hand-in-hand with atopic eczema or be a result of contact dermatitis.
Contact dermatitis can be more common in professions with frequent contact with water and chemicals. E.g. Hairdressers, cleaners, healthcare workers and hospitality workers.
Women are more likely than men to have another form of hand eczema called pompholyx or dyshidrotic eczema. This results in very itchy little blisters on the palms or fingers.
Treatment and Management
Facial eczema
Facial eczema can be chronic, reoccurring, or a fleeting occurrence.
When eczema affects the face, it can have a huge impact on quality of life due to the sensitivity of this area of skin and the visibility.
In babies, cheeks and the folds of the neck are often affected by eczema. Children can develop further facial eczema, including the eyelids. Adults with facial eczema may have developed contact dermatitis.
Facial eczema is not always because of atopic or contact dermatitis. Facial eczema in adults may be a different form of eczema – seborrheic dermatitis. This can result in dry scaly skin around ears, eyebrows, eyelids or ear canals. It can also be the cause of scalp dandruff.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Eczema is a chronic and complex itchy skin condition. But it is more than just a skin condition. For those living with eczema, it can vary from a mild to moderate itch to an extremely itchy, painful and debilitating condition, with huge effects on quality of life. There are different types of eczema, the most common being atopic eczema.
Visit the Eczema Resource Library to learn more.
