Atopic Dermatitis: Other Treatment

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Other Treatment

Other treatment for atopic dermatitis includes light therapy and complementary therapies.

Light therapy

Severe atopic dermatitis may be treated by exposing affected skin to ultraviolet (UV) light. There are two types of ultraviolet light, called ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB).

• Phototherapy uses UVA, UVB, or a combination of UVA and UVB.
• Psoralen plus ultraviolet light therapy (PUVA) uses UVA light along with psoralen medicines, which make the skin more sensitive to UV light.

Excessive sun exposure and light treatment (such as with UVA or UVB treatments) increases your risk of skin cancer.

Complementary or alternative treatments

Complementary or alternative treatments used for atopic dermatitis include:

• Taking dietary supplements of essential fatty acids (EFAs). Increasing the amount of EFAs in the diet may help the immune system function better and thus reduce atopic dermatitis. But this theory is not scientifically proved.
• Using traditional Chinese herbal therapy. The traditional herbs may contain naturally occurring corticosteroids, which may reduce itching. But this therapy has been linked to cases of liver toxicity.¹⁰
• Taking supplements of probiotics (bacteria that live in the digestive system). Probiotic supplements taken by both pregnant mothers and newborns may decrease the risk of atopic dermatitis in children with a family history of allergies.^{11 12}

If you are interested in these treatments, ask your doctor about their use, their effectiveness, and any possible interactions related to other medicines you are taking.

Last updated:	May 05, 2008
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC