Good skin care is an important part of the treatment of eczema. If eczema is mild, the condition can be effectively controlled by changing lifestyle habits and good skin care. However, if eczema is severe, it is often necessary to use drugs to control the eczema, and to reduce the impact of eczema on the patients’ quality of life. This article will talk about the topical medications used to treat eczema.

There are several types of topical medications for eczema, including corticosteroid, non-steroid medications, antibiotics, and phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors. Topical corticosteroid is usually used in patients with more severe eczema. There are different strengths of corticosteroid available. The doctor will decide the kinds of topical corticosteroid to be used based on the patient’s conditions and the eczema (such as the age of the patient, the extent of the eczema, etc.). Patients should follow the doctor's instructions to use topical corticosteroid, because excessive and inappropriate use of corticosteroid may cause side effects. If the skin is infected by bacteria, the doctor will prescribe topical or oral antibiotics for the eczema patients.

Another topical medication that can be used in eczema is topical calcineurin inhibitor. The topical calcineurin inhibitor has anti-inflammatory properties and can be used for patients with mild to moderate eczema over two years of age. Another newer type is phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor (PDE4 inhibitor). Some medical studies have pointed out that phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitors can effectively and safely treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis.