Neurodermatitis (Atopic Eczema): Therapy

General measures

  • Notes on skin care:
    • Daily basic care for local treatment of the skin:
      • Skin irritated, inflamed and oozing → light, low-fat dermatics (medicines intended for use on the skin).
      • Skin dry, non-inflamed skin → preparations containing fat.
    • Limit the use of soap
    • Do not bathe in hot water, but rather take a short shower
    • After showering, do not rub the skin with a towel, but dab it off
    • Rub the skin still wet after bathing with a moisturizing cream / ointment.
    • Avoid multiple hand washing
    • Avoid handling substances that irritate the skin
  • Avoid working in a humid environment
  • Nicotine restriction (refrain from tobacco use).
  • Limited alcohol consumption (men: max. 25 g alcohol per day; women: max. 12 g alcohol per day).
  • Avoidance of irritating substances (wool clothing, animal hair, perfume, etc.).
  • Daily airing of the apartment
  • Keeping the humidity of the air constant! Attention. Overheated rooms, underfloor heating and air conditioning lead to drying of the skin.
  • Avoidance of materials made from animal products such as mattresses with feathers.
  • Avoidance of products containing formaldehyde releasers as preservatives; these particularly often trigger a type IV allergy (synonym: allergic late-type reaction)
  • Note for the pregnant woman: breastfeeding infants (protective effect of breast milk nutrition; breastfeeding for at least > 4 months) reduces the risk of neurodermatitis in the newborn.
  • Avoidance of psychosocial stress:
    • Stress
  • Avoidance of environmental stress:
    • Airborne allergens or bacteria

Regular checkups

  • Regular medical checkups

Nutritional medicine

  • Nutritional counseling based on nutritional analysis
  • Dietary recommendations according to a mixed diet taking into account the disease at hand. This means:
    • A total of 5 servings of fresh vegetables and fruits daily (≥ 400 g; 3 servings of vegetables and 2 servings of fruits).
    • Once or twice a week fresh sea fish, i.e. fatty marine fish (omega-3 fatty acids) such as salmon, herring, mackerel.
    • High-fiber diet (whole grain products).
  • Observance of the following special dietary recommendations:
  • Selection of appropriate food based on the nutritional analysis
  • See also under “Therapy with micronutrients (vital substances)” – if necessary, taking a suitable dietary supplement Attention! Taking a dietary supplement with probiotic cultures (probiotics) reduces the risk of disease in the newborn baby.
  • For detailed information on nutritional medicine, please contact us.

Psychotherapy

  • Stress management, if necessary
  • Adjuvant use of psychotherapeutic procedures:
    • Behavioral therapy (appropriate)
    • Psychotherapy Indications: Presence of psychological factors as individual risk factors of neurodermatitis or secondary psychosocial consequences for the patient due to neurodermatitis.
  • Detailed information on psychosomatics (including stress management) can be obtained from us.

Physical therapy (including physiotherapy)

  • Phototherapy: light therapy (blue light therapy; UVB 311 nm light therapy; rather than broad-spectrum UVB) – used to stabilize the skin after drug therapy; children with moderate to severe atopic eczema, like adults, benefit from therapy
  • Balneophototherapy – treatment method in which substance-containing baths (eg.B. with high salt concentrations) can be used together with phototherapeutic measures (UV light); effectiveness is considered assured for the indication neurodermatitis.
  • Hydrotherapy in the form of oil or tar baths can be used to support the healing process

Training measures

  • Age-adapted interdisciplinary neurodermatitis training in small groups.