Can eczema be cured?

Amy Paller, MD, FAAD, a dermatologist, explains what can help a child who has eczema.

Some children outgrow their eczema. Others continue to have eczema flares and remissions for life.
Eczema can be treated.
Mild eczema can often be treated with corticosteroids that you apply to the child’s skin.
When eczema becomes more severe, a dermatologist can consider other treatment options. Using bursts of stronger corticosteroids that you apply to the skin can be helpful as can light treatments and stronger medicine that works throughout the body.
The important thing to remember about eczema is that for many children eczema is a chronic (can be lifelong) problem. There is not an easy fix. At this time, there is not a cure.
Working together with your dermatologist is the way to go. Your dermatologist can help you really understand when to use what medication in treating the eczema and other ways to best help your child.