Skin Health Eczema & Dermatitis Is There a Cure for Eczema? Although there’s no cure for eczema, treatments can help with symptoms. By Kelly Burch Kelly Burch Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kelly Burch is a freelance journalist who has covered health topics for more than 10 years. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more. Learn about our editorial process Published on November 30, 2022 Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD Medically reviewed by Susan Bard, MD Susan Bard, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Is It Curable? First-Line Treatment Options Other Treatments Alternative Therapies Research Frequently Asked Questions There isn’t currently an eczema cure. However, up to 80% of children with the condition will outgrow it by the time they become adults. People with eczema also experience periods of remission, where symptoms disappear temporarily. The best way to treat eczema is by using medications, alternative treatments and lifestyle changes. This article will discuss research on an eczema cures and eczema treatments that can help manage symptoms. Solskin / Getty Images Can You Permanently Cure Eczema? There is no eczema cure, although researchers are working to discover one. For many people, eczema is a lifelong condition, with periods of remission and times of more intense symptoms. Although many people will outgrow symptoms, there are ways to reliably treat eczema. First-Line Treatment Options The most common treatments for eczema include daily moisturizing and drugs that are applied directly to the skin. Many people find that a combination of home therapies and drugs helps keep their eczema symptoms at bay. The home remedies that can help with eczema include: Daily moisturizing Learning about and avoiding things that trigger eczema Avoiding harsh soaps and using cleansers that are safe for eczema Using skin-care products designed for eczema. In addition, many people use over-the-counter therapies, like hydrocortisone cream, and prescription medications like steroids that are taken by mouth or applied directly to the skin. Common Eczema Causes Common eczema triggers include:Skin irritants ranging from wool clothing to perfumed lotions or cleansersSkin products or soaps with harsh chemicalsEnvironmental allergens like pollen or danderExtreme temperatures, especially coldFoods including dairy, eggs, soy, and peanuts Other Treatments If first-line treatments don't give you relief from eczema symptoms, you may be able to try procedures designed to reduce itching, inflammation, and other symptoms. These include: Phototherapy (also known as light therapy) Laser treatment (a specific type of light therapy) Immunotherapy (including allergy shots) In Children The treatment for eczema in children often focuses on keeping the skin moisturized and avoiding triggers. Wet wraps are an effective treatment. Wet gauze in warm water until damp, and wrap the affected area. Then, wrap them with dry gauze and put on dry nighttime clothing and leave it overnight. You can also give them bleach baths by mixing half a cup of bleach in 40 gallons of water. In severe cases, your healthcare provider might recommend steroids or other prescription treatments for your child. While there’s not eczema cure for kids with the condition, about 80% of children with eczema see their symptoms improve as they get older. Alternative Therapies to Integrate Into Your Routine Many people with eczema find the condition difficult to control. That can leave them searching for alternative therapies. Research shows that a few alternative or complementary therapies may help relieve eczema symptoms. These include: Moisturizing with coconut oil Taking vitamin D supplements Taking probiotics Mind-body practices Apple cider vinegar Affording Eczema Treatment Eczema treatments can be expensive. On average, people with the condition spend about $700 a year on treatment. Talk with your insurance company, doctor and pharmacy about what the cost of treatment will be. If possible, opt for generic medications, which are often more affordable. Advancements in Eczema Research There are many eczema causes that play a role in the symptoms of eczema. That’s made it a complicated condition to research. However, healthcare providers and researchers are understanding more about eczema, and are optimistic about finding new, more effective treatments. Just this year, the Food and Drug Administration has approved three new prescription treatments for eczema: Dupixent (Dupilumab) CIBINQO (Abrocitinib) RINVOQ (Upadacitinib) Eventually, it’s possible that an eczema cure will exist. In the meantime, healthcare providers are developing treatments that are more powerful and effective. Although they won’t cure your eczema, they can provide long-lasting relief from symptoms. Summary Eczema is a chronic skin condition that currently has no cure. However, there are a myriad of treatments available for eczema, including lifestyle changes like moisturizing often, alternative treatments like taking probiotics, and prescription drugs. Researchers are currently developing new drugs and gaining a better understanding of eczema. One day, that could lead to a cure. A Word From Verywell Learning that you have an incurable condition is scary. But incurable doesn’t mean uncontrollable. Finding the best way to treat eczema for you or your child might take some trial and error. However, there are lots of eczema treatments available, and new drugs are constantly being developed. That should give you lots of hope for the future of eczema treatment. Frequently Asked Questions How do you get rid of eczema quickly? There’s no way to quickly get rid of eczema. However, moisturizing, using topical steroids, and trying prescription medication can all help control symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider about what options are best for you. How does diet trigger eczema? Eczema appears to be linked to allergens. For some people, foods can trigger eczema. Some common food triggers are soy, dairy, eggs, peanuts, wheat, and shellfish. If you’re sensitive to these foods, removing them from your diet may help control flairs. Can you effectively treat eczema naturally? There are many natural treatments for eczema, including moisturizing, taking lukewarm baths, and taking supplements like vitamin D and probiotics. While some people will be able to treat their eczema with just these treatments, others will need over-the-counter or prescription drugs to keep the symptoms under control. 13 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Eczema Association. Eczema stats. Abuabara, Katrina, David J Margolis, and Sinéad M Langan. The long-term course of atopic dermatitis. Dermatologic Clinics. (July 2017) doi.org: 10.1016/j.det.2017.02.003. National Health Service. Treatment (atopic dermatitis). National Eczema Association. Eczema causes and triggers. Elmets CA, Lim HW, Stoff B, et al. Joint American Academy of Dermatology-National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with phototherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(3):775-804. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2019.04.042 Mount Sinai. Treatments for eczema. Tam H, Calderon MA, Manikam L, et al. Specific allergen immunotherapy for the treatment of atopic eczema. Cochrane Skin Group, ed. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;2016(2) doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008774.pub2 Goddard AL, Lio PA. Alternative, complementary, and forgotten remedies for atopic dermatitis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:1-10. doi:10.1155/2015/676897 Chopra R, Vakharia PP, Sacotte R, Silverberg JI. Efficacy of bleach baths in reducing severity of atopic dermatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2017;119(5):435-440. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2017.08.289 National Eczema Association. Complementary, integrative, and alternative medicine 101. National Eczema Association. Working with your health insurance. National Eczema Society. Eczema research pipeline. National Eczema Association. New prescription treatments. By Kelly Burch Kelly Burch is has written about health topics for more than a decade. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and more. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit