topical corticosteroids are usually effective; weaker agents may be substituted when the rash is controlled.
if intensely itchy, occlusive bandages will limit excoriation - for example, zinc paste or ichthymol bandage such as Viscopaste, or impregnated steroid tape containing flurandrenolone 0.0125%.
steroid-antibiotic combination eg. betamethasone valerate + chinoform (Betnovate C), may be valuable since secondary infection is so common; suspect when response to topical steroid alone is inadequate
stress management
potassium permanaganate soaks if the eczema is oozing
in resistant cases UVB or PUVA therapy may be beneficial (1)
typically, twice-weekly PUVA treatments are given for eczema, and the dose of UVA radiation is gradually increased over the course of treatment. long-term continuous treatment is not advised due to increased risk of developing skin cancers
can be used as a monotherapy or in combination with emollients and topical corticosteroids (2)
(2) Sawangjit R et al. Systemic treatments for eczema: a network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD013206. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD013206.pub2
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