Nummular Eczema Treatment

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Steroid creams and ointments relieve itching and come in both over-the-counter and prescription strengths. If you decide to buy a cream available without a prescription, consult your doctor, as all steroid medications can cause side effects. However, bacterial infections or open sores require antibiotic treatments. Your doctor may advise you to take a short course to clear up the infection or might recommend a longer course of treatment to get rid of bacteria and prevent another occurrence.

Oral antihistamines such as Benadryl can relieve severe itching, they make you drowsy, however, so taking them at night can help you sleep. Oral steroids may be necessary for severe eczema. While extremely effective for reducing inflammation and symptoms, serious side effects preclude their long-term use. Immunomodulators---including Protopic and Elidel---act on the immune system to prevent it from mistakenly attacking healthy skin cells, this can prevent flare-ups and normalize skin texture. However, these treatments can negatively affect the immune system and are typically used only when other options fail.

Light Therapy

Light therapy uses either natural or artificial lights. The simplest form of light therapy involves exposing your body---including affected area---to natural sunlight. Artificial lights, such as those found in tanning beds, can also ease symptoms and are usually combined with medications. While effective, these treatments cause premature skin aging and increase your risk of skin cancer. Discuss this therapy with your doctor before attempting it on your own.

Natural Supplements

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the following natural supplements may be beneficial. However, consult a health-care professional experienced in natural therapies for skin conditions before embarking on a new regimen.

Green tea (in doses of 250 to 500mg daily), cat's claw (20mg, taken three times daily), and reishi mushroom (300mg, taken three times daily) all exhibit strong anti-inflammatory properties. Olive leaf also contains many substances that fight bacteria, take 250 to 500mg daily. Evening primrose oil contains fatty acids beneficial for skin health, you can safely take up to 8g daily in divided doses, but consult a health-care provider for a suggested dose. Milk thistle helps the liver remove toxins, take 80 to 160mg daily.

The following homeopathic remedies have a long history of use for treating skin problems. Use as directed on the label. Calendula cream soothes inflammation but will not directly treat the problem. Sulphur treats redness, burning and itching. Urtica urens treats large, red and itchy rashes. Rhus toxicodendron acts on inflamed skin, and trained homeopaths commonly use this treatment specifically for eczema.

Diet

Avoid potential allergens linked to eczema, including dairy products, gluten (proteins found in wheat, barley and rye), corn, preservatives and food additives. Eat two or three servings of cold-water fish such as salmon or halibut weekly or take a fish-oil supplement to make sure you're ingesting the essential fatty acids known as omega-3s.

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