Medications That Ease Nighttime Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms
Many topical, oral, and prescription medications are marketed to treat and manage severe AD and rehydrate your skin. How well they work can vary from person to person, though. Check with your doctor to see which solutions might best relieve the itchiness for you.
Topical Moisturizers
The National Eczema Association (NEA) has a directory of products meant to protect and fortify skin without harmful ingredients. From topical steroids to herbal formulas, products that are awarded the NEA Seal of Acceptance are free of formaldehyde, bacitracin, fragrance, and other irritants. Many of the formulas are rich in natural emollients, which help treat dryness and irritation.
Over-the-Counter Topical Medications
Often, a regular moisturizer won’t cut it to ease nighttime eczema symptoms. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, including some antihistamines, can calm inflamed skin and increase drowsiness for some people. Long-term use of these so-called first-generation antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is discouraged, however, due to the likelihood of drug tolerance, as well as concerns about an association with dementia.
Prescription Drugs
“If all these things don’t help, we can ramp things up by trying a new oral or injectable therapy,” says Jonathan Silverberg, MD, PhD, a professor of dermatology and the director of clinical research at the George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Washington, DC.
Most of the time, doctors start people with AD on a topical prescription product, such as a steroid or calcineurin inhibitor. In cases of severe eczema, however, oral or injectable systemic therapies that work to treat itch may be needed. Talk to your doctor about which medication would fit best in your treatment plan.
