What are the at-home remedies I can try?
What are the at-home remedies I can try?
There some treatments you can do at home, but you should only do them with instructions and permission from your healthcare provider:
- Ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet A or B light waves can help your skin.
- Wet wrap therapy. This therapy increases moisture in your skin.
- Bleach baths. The amount of bleach is diluted. You shouldn’t do this more than twice a week. Check with your healthcare provider before you try this therapy.
There are some other treatments you can do at home with no supervision:
- Use moisturizer. Right after you shower or bathe, apply moisturizer to your skin. This helps keep your skin hydrated.
- Don’t overheat. Keep your space at a cool temperature and avoid high humidity.
- Protect your skin. Stay away from anything that could irritate it. This includes rough clothing like wool.
- Decrease your stress. Take steps to keep your stress levels down. If you need to, see a therapist for counseling and a psychiatrist for medication.
- Bathe in lukewarm water. Be sure to use lukewarm water instead of hot. Take no more than one bath or shower per day.
- Use a mild soap. Use soap or cleanser that is unscented.
- Avoid scratching. Scratching at your dermatitis irritates it. You could break the skin, risking infection.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe one or more of the following medications:
- Moisturizing creams. Creams that hydrate and help restore the skin barrier.
- Calcineurin inhibitors. These topical medications decrease inflammation.
- Corticosteroid creams and ointments. Corticosteroids decrease inflammation.
- Phosphodieterase-4 inhibitors. This also helps with inflammation.
- Biologics. This injection blocks functions of the immune system that affect dermatitis.
- Oral medications. Pills that reduce immune responses that affect dermatitis.
- Antihistamines. These are used, sometimes, for contact dermatitis.
- Antibiotics: These can be used for people who have perioral dermatitis.