Eczema treatment...

Eczema is a condition that affects tens of millions of people in the US to varying degrees. There are many different ways to treat eczema depending on the type and severity. Some relate to things you should do, as well as things you should not do.

Moisturizing - Dermatitis severely dries out the skin,and keeping the affected area moistened can promote healing and retain natural moisture. This is the most important self-care treatment that one can use in atopic eczema.

Detergents - The first and primary recommendation is that people suffering from eczema shouldn't use detergents of any kind unless absolutely necessary.

Itch Relief - One of the nightmares that comes with eczema, that overwhelming desire for a good scratch. What can you do about it? is there a way to control the itching?

Corticosteroids - Dermatitis is often treated by doctors with prescribed Glucocorticoid (a corticosteroid steroid) ointments or creams.

Immunomodulators - these are designed to suppress the immune system in the affected area and do yield results for some.

Light Therapy - The use of ultraviolet light can help.

Traditional remedies - Eczema is not a modern disease, people have suffered for thousands of years with this condition and many herbalist treatments exist.

Future Treatments - Other than direct treatments of the symptoms, no "cure" for dermatitis is presently known; even cortisone treatments and immunomodulation may often have only minor effects on what may be a complex problem. As the condition is often related to family history of allergies (and thus heredity), it is probable that gene therapy or genetic engineering might help.

The March 2006 issue of the journal Nature Genetics, reports on research at the University of Dundee identifying a gene that the researchers believe to be the cause of inherited eczema and some related disorders. The gene produces the protein filaggrin, the lack of which causes dry skin.