Still, steroids might be a fast-acting solution to consider if you’re in the throes of a hellish flare-up. Unless it’s totally unavoidable, many doctors generally try to avoid prescribing oral steroids because of their (sometimes) uncomfortable side effects if they’re used long-term. Typically you have two types to choose from: oral steroids (which can calm your immune system and tame inflammation to give immediate relief during flare-ups) and nonsteroidal immunosuppressant oral medications (which keep the immune system from continuously flipping out over the long haul, explains Dr. If you’re itching all over or if creams just aren’t cutting it, an oral medication might be the way to go, says Dr. Freeman, 3 “but they’re well tolerated.” 3. These options can be more expensive than steroid creams, explains Dr. JAK inhibitors: This treatment stops your body from sending out inflammation signals.Topical PDE4 inhibitors: These also suppress an overactive immune system.Topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs): They help to prevent your immune system from switching on in the presence of a trigger.If you have these concerns, your doctor might recommend a different class of anti-inflammatory ointments or creams that aren’t as potent and therefore can be used longer-term, Divya Shokeen, MD, a Glendale, California–based dermatologist, tells SELF. Steroid creams can also cause skin thinning when used excessively, so your doc should go over that possible risk with you if your eczema hits an already-vulnerable area. Sometimes, though, a steroid cream might not do the trick, or your eczema pops up in a particularly sensitive spot, like your groin, eyelids, or face. Just be sure to use these exactly how your doctor prescribes them, and to raise a flag if symptoms seem to get worse. That’s when a prescription-strength corticosteroid cream-which helps to suppress the inflammatory cells that cause your skin to bug out-might help in the short term. Sometimes OTC moisturizer won’t cut it, says Dr. “Partially dry off and apply a liberal amount all over the whole body, every day, preferably twice a day,” she advises. Freeman suggests applying your moisturizer after showering while your skin is still damp-ideally within three minutes of hopping out-to help stop all that hydration from escaping. (Your doctor may also advise an in-office skin patch test to help identify your unique ingredient triggers.)ĭr. Just be sure that the product you’re using (whatever it may be) doesn’t contain fragrances or essential oils, as those ingredients can sometimes trigger flare-ups, according to the National Eczema Association.

Your environment (like frigid or swampy weather) can also set off symptoms, according to the National Eczema Association. 1 At the same time, people with eczema often have overactive immune systems that can spur skin to freak out simply in the presence of an allergen, even without actual contact, Amy Freeman, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Millburn, New Jersey, tells SELF. allergens, bacteria, and viruses) while good things exit (a.k.a. While the causes of eczema can vary from person to person, people prone to developing it tend to have a weak skin barrier that allows bad stuff to creep into the body (a.k.a. More than 31 million people in the US have eczema-and many of them find ways to care for their skin and get relief, just as you will too. The struggle sucks, but you’re not alone. Even if you purge your medicine cabinets of the zillions of perfumed lotion samples you’ve accumulated over the years, you might still find yourself scratching insatiably. Grappling with eczema-an inflammatory skin condition that can cause relentless itchiness, extreme dryness, angry rashes, scaly patches, and even blisters-can sometimes feel like an uphill battle.

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