Prescription Eczema Treatment
Many people are under the misconception that a prescription treatment is always better than an over the counter product. With so many good eczema treatments available today many times prescription treatments mean nothing more than an extra visit to the doctor. Elidel uses Pimecrolimus. It is a newer treatment of eczema and because of that it is unclear whether or not it causes additional side effects. There have been reports of skin cancer and lymphoma in patients using prescription Elidel but because it is a new product it is unclear whether this is because of the prescription medicine or other causes.
Elidel should only be used if other products have not been effective at treating eczema. It can be used for up to 6 weeks at a time and should only be used a couple times a day. Of course, you need to consult with your doctor to determine how it should be used and for how long. You should also use only the smallest amount that can improve your eczema and children under 2 should not use Elidel.
How Does Elidel Work?
Elidel is only for people that have not seen an improvement in their eczema using other treatments. It is applied as a cream to the surface of the skin and when the skin absorbs it, it can stop the immune system from producing substances or toxins that can cause eczema on the surface of the skin.
If you are using Elidel you have to tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Also, if you have had skin cancer or other cancers before then you need to let your doctor know so that you can reduce other side effects that might come along with using it.
You could notice any of the many side effects associated with Elidel including burning, stinging, or irritation at the site of irritation. Other common side effects are warts, eye irritation, headaches, cough, runny nose, nosebleeds, diarrhea, painful menstrual periods, flu-like symptoms, hives, itching, or swelling. It seems like this prescription eczema treatment has many more side effects than other products that are similar to it but not prescription strength. It doesn’t even work for every case so is it worth it to you to experience these side effects when you have other options?
Is a Prescription Treatment Better?
Sometimes a prescription eczema treatment is the better option because it is more powerful. But there are many times when you can get just as many benefits, if not more, from using an over the counter product. There was a time when prescription products were the best but because so many of them have severe side effects new over the counter products were developed that are just as effective but without side effects. Before choosing a product like Elidel that can have so many problems start with a less severe and more natural product so that you can make sure that you tried everything before using this last resort product. You can actually get a lot of benefits from other top eczema treatments.
