Tag: Ointments

Arthritis Remedies For A Much More Active Life

Most, if not all, sufferers of arthritis have been exposed to the medical pills, ointments and treatments for arthritis. All of which might or might not have worked to varying degrees and so searching around for arthritis remedies that will bring some relief has become central to their lives, which is no surprise really because arthritis is a painful condition to try and live with.

As well as trying to live with the pain, there is the added knowledge that arthritis can ravage the body and leave the sufferer with debilitating and disabling joints that will severely affect a persons standard of living and ability to do everyday things.

Arthritis remedies then usually begin in how to effectively manage and eliminate the pain associated with this condition. One of the main methods of managing arthritis is to look at the diet of the sufferer. It is widely held that switching the diet from one that is high in animal proteins and processed foods to a diet that closely resembles a vegan diet is highly effective in treating arthritis. Foods such as red meats, rich dairy products such as cheeses and eggs etc. should be replaced by nuts, whole grains and fruits and vegetables.

Arthritis remedies that involve reducing the swelling that this disease causes in the joints of the sufferer are highly thought of and suggested. Ice packs applied to a newly affected joint is a proven method to ease pain and reduce painful swelling. However, what needs to be added to this point, is that icing a joint can often lead to the joint stiffening and becoming inflexible. It is for this reason that icing of an arthritic joint is usually suggested at the end of the day.

Alternatively, applying heat to the affected joint also works well as arthritis remedies go. Heat works the opposite way to ice and so the best time to often use a hot water bottle or heat pack is at the beginning of the day. The joints have been stiffened throughout the night and a warm heat pack can often loosen up the joints and give more flexibility for the rest of the day.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but exercise is also a proven remedy for arthritis. Of course depending on the level of mobility that a suffer might have, exercise in its full range might not be possible. However as soon as arthritis is diagnosed, exercise should be placed at the top of the list. Without exercise, the bones and joints quickly become stiff and immobile and any hope of reclaiming the flexibility needed to live an independent and active life might disappear for good.

Massaging the affected joints with soothing oils, incorporating exercise and adjusting the diet are all proven and worthwhile arthritis remedies that can effectively offer relief and a much better quality of life to anyone struggling with arthritis.

Eczema Treatment Different Methods

There are many things you can do to keep eczema under control. Prevention of flare ups is your first line of defense in eczema treatment. Although there is not much your doctor can do to actually cure the skin disease, because there is no known cure for it today, however, he or she can prescribe certain treatments or medications which can help relieve the symptoms.

Corticosteroid Creams

For milder cases, there are over-the-counter creams and ointments containing corticosteroids. But for moderate to severe cases, you will need a doctors prescription of a stronger variant. For many years now, corticosteroids a class of steroid hormones produced by the body for stress, immune and inflammatory responses have been a staple treatment for eczema. If the condition does not respond to topical corticosteroids successfully, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroids taken orally or injected into the blood stream.

Topical Immunomodulators

Because of the side effects brought about by corticosteroids in the treatment of eczema, it was necessary for experts to look for an alternative treatment for the skin disease. Topical immunomodulators do not contain corticosteroids, so corticosteroids-related side effects such as thinning of the skin, dilatation of blood vessels, formation of stretch marks and infections are averted. They work by changing some of the functions of your bodys immune system so that inflammation of the eczematous skin is managed properly. But topical immunomodulators are mostly recommended for a short-term treatment course, application only on skin areas affected by eczema, and not intended to be used on children below 2 years of age or those who are immunocompromised.

Oral Antihistamines

Ask anyone afflicted with eczema and he or she will tell you that skin itching may just be the worst symptom to put up with. Scratching the eczematous skin will not help in fact it will only aggravate the situation by making the inflammation and the itchiness itself even worse. This is where oral antihistamines come to the rescue. Antihistamines are commonly used for the control of allergies; they work by suppressing the action of histamines, which is produced by your body as part of its natural defenses. Oral antihistamines will help relieve itching and can be very useful during night time to help you get some sleep despite of the symptom.

Ultraviolet Light Therapy

Ultraviolet light therapy is often employed for the treatment of various skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo and eczema. The person afflicted with eczema is exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light for a certain amount of time, and is usually as part of a total treatment course. Depending on the severity of the case, most patients require 20-30 sessions to see results.

For self-care treatment, moisturizing the eczematous skin well will greatly help in keeping the symptoms at bay especially itching. Itchiness is achieved when the affected skin gets dry. That is why anyone afflicted with the skin disease is recommended to apply moisturizers 2-3 times a day or even more, depending on certain factors such as the weather. There are a wide variety of moisturizers which you may use.

Usually they are in the form of lotions, ointments, creams and foams. You may also find some moisturizers containing extracts of herbs that are proven effective in relieving inflammation and itchiness. Aloe gel, chamomile, rosemary, witch hazel and walnut leaf extracts are some of the commonly known additives for moisturizers effective for eczema treatment.

Corticosteroid Creams and Ointments Are Commonly Used For Eczema Treatment

Corticosteroid Creams and Ointments Are Commonly Used For Eczema Treatment

Corticosteroid medication is usually prescribed for eczema treatment because these are derivatives of something we naturally produce in our adrenal glands. It helps us manage the inflammation especially in the case of eczema and against other skin disorders.

There are two ways that this medication is given namely topically or orally. When we say topically, this is applied to the skin and the absorbed by the body.

Once applied, they stop the skin cells from producing various forms of inflammation that are released when they come into contact with an allergen or irritation. Thus, you are able to reduce the inflammation and in some cases relieve the itchiness.

Examples of topical corticosteroids for eczema include betametasone, fluticasone, hydrocortisone and mometasone. This is available in creams, lotions and ointments which can be purchased over the counter.

It must be pointed out that there are 4 different strengths for topical corticosteroids namely mild, moderate, potent and very potent. Hydrocortisone is used for mild and moderate cases of eczema while the others are used in potent and very potent cases of this skin condition.

In some cases, you will have to use one or two different types for different parts of the body but when you have to take it, remember that the more potent it is, the shorter the time that you have to use it rather than suffering the side effects.

The most common side effect is the thinning of the skin which usually results to permanent stretch marks later on. Your blood vessels may also swell and become prominent under the skin surface. You may even look like someone beat you up because these will appear like bruises. This is why doctors rarely recommend this to patients when the skin is already inflamed.

In rare cases, the use of corticosteroids may cause growth suppression or adrenal suppression. You have to remember that these are also naturally produced by the body and if this should happen, you may not be producing the same number as you are used to.

Children are the ones who are at a higher risk of experiencing these side effects. To prevent this from happening, their case should be monitored by a trained dermatologist.

To reduce the risk of side effects, you have to use corticosteroid creams or ointments that are the least potent. When you apply it to your skin, make sure that this is confined only in the area where the skin disease is present. If this is prescribed by your doctor, make sure that this is only applied once or twice in one day.

When eczema is finally under your control, stop using it. Just use moisturizers to prevent flare ups from taking place because corticosteroid creams or ointments can only reduce the symptoms and not make this go away.

Although corticosteroid creams or ointments are common, you should know that women who are pregnant should never use it. Studies have shown that using it could endanger the fetus and result and abnormalities when the child finally comes out of the womb. It is also not safe for nursing mothers so the child does not absorb the steroids when it is time to feed them.

It is for these reasons that if you have this skin disorder, you should ask your doctor about other forms of eczema treatment like light therapy or wet wrap therapy.

How to Deal with Eczema

Eczema treatment is possible but before we mention what these are, we should know what it is first.

Eczema is a dry skin condition that happens commonly among children. There are different degrees by which someone is affected and the only good news is that it is not contagious.

When you do have it, your skin will not only look dry but also itchy and red. In severe cases, there may be bleeding, crusting and weeping.

So how do we treat eczema? The first thing you have to do to prevent it from getting worse is not to scratch it because constant scratching causes the skin to bleed and split making it vulnerable to infection. Should this happen to you, there are oral and topical antibiotics available that can kill the bacteria.

Since this is easier said than done, you should apply creams and lotions over the affected area to keep the skin moist. The best time to apply it to the skin is after bathing so the moisture from the bath is still locked into the skin.

Another option is to apply cold compress. If this still does not work, then you can go to the drug store and apply nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments that are designed to reduce inflammation.

If the nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments are not effective, then it is time to try those that are prescribed by the doctor. You should know that there are some side effects and to prevent this from happening, you must limit the length of treatment time and the locations where this will be applied. Instead of topical prescribed medication, the doctor may even give you oral corticosteroids.

The creams and ointments mentioned will not be able to help if you have severe itching. For that, doctors will recommend sedative antihistamines that are available in both prescription and over-the-counter varieties. Since drowsiness is a common side effect, this is usually given during the evening so you will be able to get a good nights sleep.

For those who want to use something else, they can try tar treatments and phototherapy. The only problem with tar treatments is the fact that it is messy.

The last resort for eczema treatment if nothing seems to work is a drug called cyclosporine A. This is designed to modify the bodys immune response at a price because it is known to have serious side effects.

But for people who are suffering from atopic dermatitis which is another form of eczema, there are two topical medications to choose from that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These are namely tacrolimus and pimecrolimus which belong to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors which work by modulating the immune response. The best part is that there are no side effects even during long term use.

Can eczema be prevented? The answer is yes. If you have children, make sure they are wearing breathable clothes like those made of cotton, use mild soaps when they bathe, keep their room clean from dust mites and avoid sudden temperature changes.

Eczema can happen at any age. Studies have shown that there are 15 million people in this country who have one form or another. The good news is that there is eczema treatment available. If over the counter creams, ointments and medications dont work, consult with your dermatologist so something stronger can be given.