Eczema treatment

The cost of treatment for eczema depends on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our fixed-price packages include the cost of your surgery and all appropriate aftercare appointments. However, any pre-surgery diagnostic tests and your consultant's outpatient appointment consultation fee are charged separately.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

Mild eczema can cause dry, itchy, flaky patches of skin. If your eczema isn't bothering you or is easily manageable with home remedies, then you likely don't need to see a doctor about it.

However, in many cases, it's a good idea to speak with a medical professional. Over time, your eczema can get worse, so it can be useful to get it under control before it gets worse. Eczema can also be uncomfortable and make you self-conscious about your appearance.

If you have symptoms of more severe eczema, then you should get private medical care. Some signs to look out for include inflamed, discoloured, very itchy skin. On light skin, eczema can look red, and on darker skin tones, it may look brown, purple, or grey.

Other reasons you should seek medical intervention include more frequent flare-ups, eczema that is getting worse, and uncomfortable itchiness. If scratching patches of dry skin is affecting your sleep or daily life, treatment can help. Additionally, it's essential to speak with a doctor if you think your eczema might be infected.

Some signs of infection include:

• Swelling
• Soreness
• Seeping fluid
• A crust forming
• Feeling generally unwell

It's important to get treatment promptly to prevent your eczema from getting worse. The sooner you see a doctor and establish a treatment plan, the quicker you can get your symptoms under control. If the pain and itchiness of your eczema are affecting your quality of life, this is particularly important.

When you go to your consultation, your doctor will ask you a lot of questions about your eczema and symptoms. For example, they might ask you when it started, if it's been worse or better, and what it feels like. They'll also examine the patch or patches of affected skin.

There's no specific test that can diagnose eczema, so you won't need any scans or blood tests. They might do a patch test to determine any allergies or triggers - this is particularly common in children with eczema.

Your initial consultation is a key first step in your treatment journey. It allows your consultant to learn more about your eczema, assess how severe it is, and determine the appropriate course of treatment. They'll decide what's best depending on your symptoms, age, and any other health conditions you already have or medications you're taking.

Creams and ointments are a very common option. These can range in strength from over-the-counter to prescription strength. Some options your doctor might recommend include:

• Moisturisers: Thick, hydrating creams that are fragrance-free and hypoallergenic are good options for people with eczema. Look for ones with aloe, shea butter, and glycerin.
• Emollient creams: These are a special type of lotion that coats the skin in an invisible film that locks in moisture.
• Topical corticosteroids: These help to reduce inflammation, itching, and redness. Your doctor will likely start with a low-potency steroid and gradually increase your dose if it's needed.
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors: While these also help to reduce itching and inflammation, they're not steroids, so they're a good option for people who cannot or don't want to take steroid medications. It also makes them a good choice for delicate spots like eyelids and genital areas.
• Topical PDE4 inhibitors: These work with your immune system to reduce inflammation and help your eczema.

In addition to topical medications, your doctor might also suggest oral medicines. These may be useful if your eczema is more severe. Types of tablets include:

• Oral corticosteroids: Because these can affect your whole body, they're not used very often. Your doctor will likely only prescribe these if you have a very severe flare-up.
• Immunosuppressants: Like oral steroids, these are usually only used for severe eczema that can't be managed with topical medications.
• Antihistamines: If your eczema is caused by allergies and is very itchy, your doctor might recommend antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine.

In addition to your prescribed medications, creams, and treatments, your doctor will also give you information on how to manage your eczema through your lifestyle. These are long-term changes that you can continue to prevent future flare-ups. Some useful home remedy habits include:

• Identifying and avoiding triggers: You can try keeping an eczema journal to track potential allergens or irritants that make your eczema worse. Then, you can take steps to avoid them going forward.
• Moisturising routine: An important part of managing your eczema is bathing regularly (using water that isn't too hot) and moisturising directly afterwards.
• Natural remedies: While there’s limited research on alternative remedies, you can try options like oatmeal baths and topical honey, coconut oil, and sunflower oil.

The average recovery timeline varies from person to person. It depends on how severe your eczema was to start with, what treatment plan you're on, and how strictly you stick to that plan. In most cases, your treatment can be done at home, so you won't need to spend time in hospital or take time off of work or daily responsibilities.

If you're using topical creams and emollients or taking oral medication, you should see a noticeable improvement in your symptoms in a few weeks. Conversely, if you’re using a topical steroid, you should notice a change in one week. If you don't see any difference or feel like your eczema is getting worse, you should call your doctor. You may need a different strength steroid.

One key factor in eczema recovery is keeping track of your symptoms. You can record changes in a journal, and you may also want to document progress visually by taking pictures of your eczema patches. This will allow you to see how effective your treatment plan is and also flag any potential triggers that make your eczema worse.

As you follow your treatment protocol, be sure to implement a regular bathing and moisturising routine, and try to keep your skin well-hydrated. Use your medications consistently and as prescribed, and let your doctor know if you're having any side effects. Also, keep an eye out for signs of an infection, such as redness, inflammation, pain, or pus-filled bumps.

When your consultant explains your treatment plan, they'll let you know what side effects or complications to be aware of. While the risks of eczema treatment are fairly minimal, all medications have the potential to cause side effects, so it's important to be aware of them.

The side effects you may experience depend on the medications you're using. Some complications associated with medications for eczema treatment include:

• Painkillers: In particular, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause stomach aches, indigestion, headaches, and stomach ulcers. These are more likely if you're taking high doses for a long period of time.
• Topical steroids: These can cause thinning of the skin, rashes, stretch marks, inflammation, and changes in skin colour. If you've been taking them for a long time and stop suddenly, you can also have withdrawal effects.
• Phototherapy: Because this form of treatment uses UV radiation, it can cause associated side effects including sunburn, soreness, and skin ageing.

You probably have a lot of questions about what eczema treatment involves — here are the answers to some commonly asked ones.

What is the most common treatment for eczema?

Some of the most frequently used treatments for eczema are moisturisers, topical steroid creams, and other creams and ointments. Medications that you take orally, like antibiotics and antihistamines, can also help in some cases.

Should I try natural remedies for my eczema?

While you can try home remedies for your eczema symptoms, you should always do so after consulting your doctor. Some “natural” remedies you read about online can actually be harmful or dry out your skin, so it's important to get your consultant's opinion before trying anything new. If they give you the go-ahead, they may suggest options like aloe vera, coconut oil, and oatmeal baths.

How can I prevent my eczema from coming back?

An important aspect of eczema treatment is keeping symptoms at bay and preventing future flare-ups. You can do this by keeping your skin well hydrated, using gentle cleansers, and tracking and avoiding your triggers.

Is eczema contagious?

No, eczema is not contagious, and you can't spread it from person to person. You also can't spread eczema to different parts of your own body by touching them.

Is it bad for me to use steroids for a long period of time?

While topical steroid medications are extremely effective treatment options for eczema, like all medications, they come with potential side effects. If you use topical steroids for a long period of time, you can develop thinning of the skin and stretch marks.

You can also have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them. If your doctor prescribes topical steroids for your eczema, it's important to follow their prescribing instructions and let them know about any side effects you experience.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:   

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs  
• Private en-suite rooms as standard 
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end  
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included  
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you want to know more about hip replacement surgery and find out if it's the right treatment for you, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly on 0808 256 8415.

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in September 2024. Next review due September 2027.

1. 7 types of eczema, National Eczema Association
2. Available eczema treatments, National Eczema Association
3. Eczema: Learn More – Light therapy, tablets and injections, NIH
4. Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatment, American Academy of Dermatology Association
5. NSAIDs, NHS
6. Oral steroids, National Eczema Society
7. Symptoms, NHS