Guide To Treating Dyshidrotic Eczema

Ultraviolet Light Treatment

Ultraviolet light treatment is used to treat nummular eczema, dyshidrotic eczema, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. For cases where eczema covers a large portion of the body or localized eczema, such as an outbreak confined to the hands and feet, not responding to other treatments, ultraviolet light treatment may be prescribed. If other treatments do not bring dyshidrotic eczema into remission, a regimen of light treatments combined with medications to help the skin respond positively is often attempted.

Narrowband ultraviolet light is often used for treating dyshidrotic eczema. A machine is used to apply UVB (the most effective part of sunlight for treating any type of eczema) to the area of the outbreak. Phototherapy (UVB treatment) increases vitamin D production, calms inflammation, relieves itching, and boosts systems in the skin that fight bacteria. UVB light therapy produces results slower than other forms of treatment. It might take one to two months to see results, after which time the treatments are usually decreased to one or two per week until discontinued. Approximately seventy percent of patients show improvement with phototherapy, and some go into remission that lasts long after the treatments are discontinued.

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