It's hard to say exactly how long that will take. The treatment may last from a few days to six weeks. This will depend on the concentration of the corticosteroid and the affected areas of the skin. Steroids generally shouldn't be applied to sensitive areas of the body for more than a few days.
You should use topical steroids until the exacerbation has completely disappeared and then stop using them. In many cases, a treatment of 7 to 14 days is sufficient to eliminate an eczema outbreak. In some cases, a longer course is needed. There are several over-the-counter creams you can use to treat eczema.
Topical hydrocortisones can be purchased without a prescription. They are low in concentration and help reduce irritation and inflammation. These creams are usually used one to four times a day, for up to 7 days. Only apply the steroid to areas of the skin affected by eczema as often as prescribed by your doctor.
Moisturizers can be applied to steroids. Topical steroids are primarily prescribed to treat outbreaks of eczema. You will usually be directed to apply topical steroids for short periods of treatment and then stop or stop using them when the eczema settles. If you're prescribed a milder steroid, you'll usually be asked to stop taking it after a burst of treatment, but if you're prescribed a stronger steroid, you'll be told to “reduce” your lower potency preparations as your eczema settles.
The frequency of exacerbations and the number of times treatment with topical steroids is needed vary greatly from person to person. Topical steroids (also known as topical corticosteroids) are immunosuppressive creams and ointments used to treat inflammation (exacerbations) of eczema. However, it should be emphasized that these effects generally only occur when potent steroids have been applied for an extended period, either to the face or to covered parts of the body, such as push-ups. The doctor will tell you the best way to treat your child's eczema and will prescribe the most appropriate cream if needed.
There are several different types of topical steroids, as well as different concentrations and dosage forms (ointment, cream, lotion, spray). Problems can occur if topical steroids are used for long periods of time or if short cycles of stronger steroids are repeated frequently. A very strong topical steroid is often needed for eczema on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet of adults because these areas have thick skin. Patients with this type of withdrawal experience swelling, redness, burning and skin tenderness, usually within 1 to 2 weeks after stopping taking the steroid.
The papulopustular variant was most often associated with the use of topical corticosteroids for cosmetic purposes or for an acne or acne-like disorder. Once the inflammation is under control, reduce or stop using the steroid as directed by your doctor. Confusing the signs and symptoms of eczema with steroid withdrawal could result in unnecessary insufficient treatment of eczema. For these reasons, topical steroid use is limited to short periods of time under the supervision of a physician or nurse.
In the United Kingdom, topical steroid preparations fall into four categories based on their strength or potency. In fact, this can lead to the use of more steroids in the long term, since inflamed skin may never fully clear up.
