That’s why, if you aren’t satisfied with how your eczema symptoms are being controlled with your current medication regimen, it’s important to reach out to your doctor, according to Melissa Piliang, MD, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. “Because our bodies are unique, we all respond to different medications in different ways. On top of that, we have different personal preferences,” she says. It may take some trial and error, but there are several options for people to manage their atopic dermatitis, Dr. Piliang adds.
What Are My Options When It Comes to Changing My Eczema Treatment?
Once you’ve talked to your doctor about any concerns you’re having with your atopic dermatitis/eczema treatment, there are a few options you can explore together. Your doctor may, for example:
Tweak the dosage of your medication. Many people with eczema often start with topical treatments, and doctors can increase the strengths of those medications if needed, according to Piliang. “Sometimes it may be just going to a stronger topical medication for flares,” she says.Recommend supplementing your current treatment plan with another drug. In some cases, if your symptoms are no longer well controlled, your doctor may step up therapy to a more aggressive treatment, says Piliang. “We may add systemic medications,” such as biologics and JAK inhibitors, she adds.Recommend switching to a new treatment altogether. There are times when it’s appropriate to switch treatments, according to Piliang. This can include situations in which your symptoms aren’t well controlled or you may be experiencing unpleasant side effects with your current regimen.Ask you to do some trial and error to find the right treatment or combination of treatments. It can take some time to find the right eczema treatment for you — so you shouldn’t feel bad about telling your doctor if a medication isn’t working, says Piliang.
“If there was one perfect treatment that worked for everybody in the same way, we wouldn’t need all the different options that are available,” she says. “There’s no reason for you to suffer because your treatment isn’t the right one for you.”
