Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
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Treatment of Eczema (varicose)
You can help to prevent and treat dry, scaly, itchy skin by the regular use of emollients (moisturisers). Emollients reduce water loss from the epidermis (outer layer) of your skin by covering it with a protective film. This keeps the water in the skin where it is needed and also helps to keep infections and other harsh substances out. Emollients are very safe and you cannot overuse them. They are not active drugs and do not get absorbed through the skin into the body. See the separate section on Emollients for more detailed information.
You may need to use a topical corticosteroid (steroid) to treat inflamed areas. You should talk to your GP or pharmacist (chemist) for further advice before using a topical steroid as they can sometimes make varicose eczema worse if the skin is broken, infected or ulcerated. You can also speak to a nurse by phoning NHS Direct on 0845 4647. See the separate section on Topical Steroids for more detailed information.
Your doctor or nurse may suggest that you wear compression (support) hosiery or bandages to help the circulation in your legs.
If varicose eczema is left untreated, the skin can break down, resulting in an ulcer. This requires treatment with special dressings and nursing care.
The way you use and apply the treatments is a key factor in how successful you will be in keeping the eczema under control. Failure of treatment can often be due to incorrect use. There are many preparations of each type of treatment. It may take time to find the best one (s). Do not try several new treatments at once – for example, a mixture of creams, new diet and a herbal medicine, because if things improve, you will not know which treatment has worked.
Over the counter medicines A range of emollient products can be bought from your pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist for advice on the different products and how to use them. After asking you a few questions to find out about you, your condition and any medicines you may take or use (including any treatments applied directly to the skin), they may decide it would be better for you to see your GP to review your condition and its treatment. Tell your pharmacist if the person who needs the treatment is allergic to peanuts because some products contain peanut (arachis) oil.
Complementary treatments- Evening primrose oil supplements, borage oil, homeopathy (graphites, nat.mur) and Chinese herbal medicine (Chinese gentian, Chinese wormwood, peony root, rehmannia) have all been used to treat atopic eczema.
There is little evidence to prove how these alternative medicines work or how safe or effective many of them are. Certain herbs and preparations contain ingredients that can be harmful if not used with care or if not obtained from reputable sources. Before using any complementary medicine for eczema, you should talk to your GP or pharmacist (chemist). You can also phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.
