Pediatrics Dermatitis

Eczema online treatment and medication available today

To treat your eczema, consult with one of our board-certified primary care doctors online today to get relief from your dry, itchy, or sensitive skin. If necessary, get a new prescription to treat eczema, or refill an existing prescription today.*

Customized Eczema treatment plans Comprehensive care for all Eczema types Personalized home remedies guidance

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*Prescriptions are provided at the doctor's discretion. Learn more about our controlled substances policy and how to save up to 80% with our prescription discount card. PlushCare doctors cannot treat all cases of eczema. At this time, PlushCare does not employ dermatologists. Not all conditions are appropriate for telehealth or for primary care physicians. If so, our doctors will help guide you with referrals and resources to get the best care from specialists and/or in-person as possible. If you are experiencing life-threatening symptoms, seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Learn about eczema

Eczema is a term that refers to inflammatory skin conditions that causes itchy, dry skin rashes and scaly patches. According to the National Eczema Association, more than 31 million Americans, from babies to children and adults, live with some form of eczema. There are seven types of eczema: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, nummular eczema, seborrheic dermatitis and stasis dermatitis. Out of the seven types, atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is also called atopic eczema.

Eczema is not contagious, i.e. it does not pass from person to person.

Eczema causes

The exact cause of eczema is still an area of active research. Eczema occurs when an overactive immune system reacts to substances such as allergens, irritants, and toxins, that causes the skin to become dry and itchy. It’s a hyper-sensitivity to these substances that can lead to intermittent and chronic flare-ups. Eczema seems to run in families, suggesting that genetics maybe a determining factor.

Many conditions have been observed to trigger symptoms of eczema:

Environmental conditions leading to dry skin
Hand or body soap
Laundry detergent
Surface cleaners or disinfectants
Metals (especially nickel)
Cigarette smoke
Fragrances
Wool or polyester
Antibacterial ointment
Formaldehyde (common in disinfectants, some vaccines, glues and other adhesives)
Cocamidopropyl betaine (used to thicken some shampoos and lotions)
Paraphenylene-diamine (found in some leather dyes and temporary tattoos)
Excessive stress
Allergens such as pollen, dust mites, pet dander, mold and dandruff
Hormonal changes
Climate
Eczema may be seasonal, worsened by summer heat or winter dryness

Eczema symptoms

If you have the following eczema symptoms, it is important to take precautions to prevent bacterial skin infections as eczema may have damaged the skin barrier function of your skin. As a result, during the eczema flares the skin is more vulnerable during these times. Common eczema symptoms include:

Dry skin
Severe itching (also known as pruritus)
Red or gray-brown scaly patches on the: hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, chest, eyelids, inside the elbows, back of the knees, and for infants: the face, cheeks, and scalp
Small, raised bumps that when scratched may leak and crust or scab over
Scaly, cracked, thickened skin
Raw, sensitive, or swollen skin from scratching

The location of these eczema flare ups can vary from around the face, arms and outside of the elbows, on the knees, hands and feet.

How to treat eczema

Although there is no cure for eczema, treatments available can relieve itching and effectively manage the flare ups. Treatments may be individualized to your symptoms, but the mainstays of healthy skin when living with eczema are skin hydration and opting for fragrance, dye, and additive free “hypoallergenic” products.

Mild Eczema

Mild eczema may respond well to thick moisturizers such as Vaseline, Aquaphor, Cetaphil, or Eucerin (or their generic equivalents). Ointments are more hydrating than creams, which are more hydrating than lotions. Remember, water dries skin out, and thin lotions have the most water! The thicker, the better.

Topical steroids help calm down the body’s immune response. Over the counter options include hydrocortisone. These, combined with moisturizers, may be sufficient in mild cases.

Moderate Eczema

In addition to the above, those living with moderate symptoms may need prescription-strength topical steroids or other types of anti-inflammatory creams including Topical calcineurin inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. Your doctor will help guide you to understand which treatment is best for you.

Severe eczema

For some severe atopic dermatitis, a doctor may recommend therapies such as:

Light therapy: Also known as phototherapy for moderate to severe eczema. This type of therapy involves the use of ultraviolet (UV) light waves that are part of the light spectrum in natural sunlight. Phototherapy aims to suppress the immune system responses that lead to the flare ups. In the simplest form of light therapy, controlled amounts of natural sunlight is used. Some other forms of light therapy uses artificial ultraviolet A (UVA) from special light sources. Phototherapy may be used along with other treatment. Note that there are risks associated with phototherapy: premature skin aging and an increased risk of skin cancer. Discuss these risks with your doctor first.
Wet wrap therapy: In this treatment, the affected skin area is wrapped up with wet bandages treated with topical corticosteroids. This is an intensive treatment for patients with severe atopic dermatitis that resulted in lesions.
Immunosuppressants*: In atopic dermatitis, the immune system overreacts to triggers and causes flare up, leading to symptoms such as itching and skin barrier issues. In moderate to severe eczema cases, immunosuppressant which suppresses the immune system to reduce the flare-ups can be prescribed. The following is a list of immunosuppressants that can be prescribed:
- Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors
- Azathioprine
- Cyclosporine
- Methotrexate
- Mycophenolate mofetil
Injectable biologics*: In atopic dermatitis, the immune system overreacts to triggers and causes flare up. Biologics are genetically engineered medications that are injected to suppress immune system response. Below are some FDA approved brand name biologics:
- Dupixent (Dupilumab)
- Adbry (Tralokinumab-ldrm)

* Please note that the initiation and management of oral immunosuppressants or injectable medications such as biologics may require the expertise of a specialist such as a dermatologist. At this time, PlushCare does not have any dermatologists available but can refer patients to a specialist if needed.

Eczema treatment and medication FAQs

What is the best treatment for eczema?

Different atopic dermatitis symptoms may need different and various treatments. Some atopic dermatitis treatment methods include:

wet bandages
light therapy
corticosteroid cream or ointment to reduce itching
immunosuppressants (e.g. calcineurin inhibitor creams) to help the immune system
topical or oral antibiotics for bacterial infections caused by scratching,
oral corticosteroids to control inflammation,
oral antihistamines (allergy medications)
dupilumab (Dupixent), a new, expensive injectable biologic (monoclonal antibody)

What is the best medicine for eczema?

The best medicine for eczema depend on the severity of the atopic dermatitis symptoms and age of the patient. Some known and effective atopic dermatitis medicines include:

corticosteroid cream
calcineurin inhibitor creams
topical or oral antibiotics
oral corticosteroids
oral antihistamines (allergy medications)
injectable biologic (e.g. dupilumab (Dupixent))

What cream is best for eczema?

Topical treatments for atopic dermatitis are generally creams that can be applied to the skin to reduce flare ups. There are different types of topical prescription therapies:

topical steroids
topical calcineurin inhibitors
PDE4 inhibitors
Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors

Can an online doctor treat eczema?

Yes, online doctors can treat eczema. You can electronically send pictures of the affected area to your online doctor before your appointment. They may be able to diagnose your condition, help identify your triggers, advise you on at-home treatments, and when necessary, prescribe medication. Not all cases are safe for telehealth care, though, so our primary care physicians will help guide you toward specialist and in-person treatments should they feel that they are more appropriate for safe, effective care. Book an appointment to speak to an online doctor about eczema treatment.

Can eczema go away?

Eczema typically does not go away on its own. There are currently no cures for eczema. Treatment plans can be put in place to relieve itching and effectively manage the flare ups.

Step 1

Book an eczema treatment appointment.

Book a same day appointment from anywhere.

Step 2

Talk to your medical provider regarding your eczema symptoms.

Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.

Step 3

Pick up a prescription to treat eczema.

We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.

Related conditions to eczema

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin conditions that causes well-defined, thick, red, scaly patches. Eczema tends to cause more intense itching than psoriasis. A trained dermatologist is able to tell the difference between eczema and psoriasis.

Rash

Skin rashes are patches of red, bumpy or itchy skin breakouts that can occur due to heat/cold, allergens, infections, medications, etc. Rash is one of the symptoms of atopic dermatitis.

Acne

Acne is one of the common skin infections that develops when skin pores become clogged. The acne-causing bacteria in the clogged pores can grow on the mix of oil and dead skin cells, triggering the body's immune system and causing inflammatory acne. Though acne causes pimples, sometimes it is difficult to tell atopic dermatitis rash and pimples apart. Do note that atopic dermatitis and acne are completely different skin conditions.

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