By the time most eczema sufferers seek advice from a doctor or dermatologist, the skin condition has already started to impact their day-to-day life.
Many people experience dry, red, or flaky skin at some point, but if itching and irritation from eczema begins to impact your quality of life then it’s time to seek medical advice.
Keeping dry and itchy skin well moisturised with an emollient cream or lotion may keep the itching at bay to begin with. But when eczema really flares up, slathering on the emollient is often not enough to bring things back under control quickly.
Instead, a health professional may prescribe you a topical corticosteroid, commonly referred to as a steroid cream, to help to get your flare up under control quickly.
What are topical corticosteroids?
Topical corticosteroids, commonly called steroid creams, contain man-made hormones similar to the hormone cortisol that is produced naturally by our adrenal glands.
They are a type of anti-inflammatory medicine that works by suppressing the body’s immune system and narrowing the blood vessels in the skin to provide fast relief from eczema flare ups.
In different forms, corticosteroids can also be used to treat a variety of other conditions like arthritis, hay fever, sciatica, and inflammatory bowel disease.
Topical corticosteroids usually come in the form of creams, lotions, or gels. The commonest topical corticosteroid used to treat eczema is called hydrocortisone.
Cortisone creams come in a variety of strengths, from very mild to extra potent creams, you will usually work your way up the scale, depending on the severity of your eczema.
Should I use a topical corticosteroid for my eczema?
While those that suffer milder flare-ups may be able to manage without using corticosteroids, if your eczema keeps flaring up then you are likely to benefit from using a topical corticosteroid.
If you find that your eczema is bad enough to disrupt your sleep or cause emotional distress, then it’s time to bring it back under control as quickly as possible and a topical corticosteroid can help you to do this.
Benefits of using a topical corticosteroid
Using a prescribed corticosteroid is usually effective at quickly easing the itching, redness and distress caused by eczema.
By acting quickly when the skin begins to flare up, you may also be able to avoid painful complications caused by prolonged skin irritation, including skin infections, and minimise the effect that eczema has on your quality of life.
Corticosteroids can also be very effective at breaking the itch and scratch cycle to give your skin the time it needs to heal.
By catching the problem early on, you also reduce the risk of needing even stronger topical corticosteroids later down the line if the problem is left to worsen.
Are topical corticosteroids safe?
Some people may be reluctant to start using steroid creams because of misinformation and horror stories they have heard.
As with all medicines, it is possible to experience side effects when using topical corticosteroids, but this is quite uncommon, and most people don’t report any problems.
Some uncommon side effects include thinning of the skin, change in skin colour, and suppression of the body’s own production of steroids.
It’s worth noting that as well as being very uncommon, side effects are more likely to occur with prolonged and intense use of corticosteroids and most people suffering with eczema will only use relatively low strength creams for a short period of time to get a flare-up under control.
When used as recommended, topical corticosteroids are safe.
If you have any questions or concerns about their use, always consult your doctor.
Topical corticosteroids and children
Parents of babies and children who suffer from eczema are likely to be particularly concerned about what they’re putting on their child’s skin.
Several medical studies, including one by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) have concluded that the benefits of using an appropriate strength of topical corticosteroid as directed by a dermatologist to get control of an eczema flare up outweighs the low risk of experiencing side effects.
Treating Eczema using topical corticosteroids
Speak Your Mind