Neurodermatitis (atopic dermatitis)

As it is a chronic skin disease, the advice of and treatment by a dermatologist should always be sought as soon as possible. There are a large number of treatment options, and the treatment must always be tailored to the individual. For every patient responds differently to the treatment.

Treatment goals

The neurodermatitis therapy incorporates various treatment goals:
Firstly, to treat the acute inflammatory bouts and alleviate the itching. Anti-inflammatory and itch-alleviating drugs, such as corticoids or topical immune modulators (calcineurin inhibitors) and anti-histamins, are used here.

In addition, an accompanying basic therapy should always be carried out.
Through regular application of medical/skincare creams, ointments, and oil baths, the skin is supplied with oils and the skin moisture increased. The disrupted skin barrier function is thus restored and the skin condition restored. The basic treatment should also be carried out in symptom-free intervals as a renewed bout can thus be delayed. The consumption of drugs containing active ingredients can be reduced through the use of basic therapeutics.

Individual irritant factors that aggravate the disease or trigger a new bout should be identified and avoided.

An early, professional therapy and a consistent medical skin care can help to avoid complications. Today, only the symptoms of neurodermatitis can be treated. Treatment methods that promise complete and immediate healing of neurodermatitis are generally to be viewed with scepticism.

External treatment of itching, inflammation and dry skin

In the acute inflammatory phase, corticoid drugs (e. g. hydrocortisone butyrate) available only on prescription are normally prescribed. Topical immune modulators , such as Tacrolimus or Pimecrolimus can also be used. Tannins (e. g. Tannosynt^®) are also used in the acute inflammatory phase. Baths or compresses containing tannins or compresses are particularly suited here.

Pronounced itching is a characteristic symptom of neurodermatitis.
Active ingredients that alleviate itching e. g. Polidocanol (Optiderm^®, Balneum Hermal^® Plus Oil Bath) or anti-histaminics help to break the vicious itch-scratch circle. The tannins already mentioned above also help alleviate itching.

To supply the affected skin with moisture, it is important to select substances that demonstrably result in an increase in the skin's capability to bind water. These include e.g. urea, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid. Drugs containing urea should not be applied to acute inflammatory skin (burning on the skin). With young children, only a 3-5% urea concentration should be used.

Internal treatment with severe neurodermatitis

In addition to corticoids to be used internally, primarily anti-histaminics are used that interrupt the itching. Some anti-histaminics also have a calming (soothing) effect and are therefore used in the evening to make falling asleep and sleeping through easier.

Very severe cases are treated with so-called immune suppressives, such as Ciclosporin. These are known from transplantation medicine and also have a benefit with severe neurodermatitis, as the immune system is involved to a large degree in the disease events.
In addition, antibiotics or virustatics help with severe infections caused by bacteria (antibiotics) or by viruses (virustatics).