The Idea of an Essay, Volume 4

202 The Idea of an Essay: Volume 4 16). Experts stress the importance of creating an artificial barrier to prevent the intake of toxins, in addition to all the other functions the skin performs. While moisturizers are the foundation of eczema treatment, often times it is not enough. Emollients usually must be supplemented with topical steroids, hydrocortisone for example. Doctors prescribe small doses of steroids to begin with, depending on the severity of the symptoms, and then gauge the reaction to treatment. If the starting dose does not improve the symptoms, then a higher dose will be prescribed. Parents often have health concerns of immune suppression and growth failure in relation to topical steroids (Lawton “Childhood Atopic” Eczema 229). While side effects are generally uncommon, topical steroids have a negative connotation that is compounded by reading prescription information on labels (Lawton “Childhood Atopic Eczema” 229). Prescription packaging lists all kinds of side effects, such as mood swings and personality shifts, even if they are not common, and when parents are giving this medication to their children, it can be especially frightening. This fear makes natural remedies much more appealing. Another treatment option is homeopathic remedies. These treatments may include daily baths with vinegar, oil, and salt added to the water, the use of essential oils, targeting healing of the digestive system as a root cause for eczema, avoiding allergen triggers in environment and food, and washing dishes and laundry with non-detergent soaps. Medical doctors advise that patients explore these options cautiously, from a safety standpoint. Many people are willing to take the risk despite this, as they consider homeopathic treatment safer and more natural (Lawton “Childhood Atopic Eczema: Adherence to Treatment” 229). While it may be seen as more ideal, doctors have not yet developed a guaranteed treatment. The root cause of eczema has yet to be discovered, so doctors can only treat what symptoms they understand. This is unfortunate because it leads to the obvious conclusion that there is no cure for eczema. Thankfully, “60-70% of children who have eczema in the first few years of their lives” will grow out of it by the time they turn 11, and those that don’t usually improve with age (Lawton, “Childhood Atopic Eczema: Adherence to Treatment” 228). While eczema may not be curable, there is a very high chance that it will improve in most individuals. Eczema is a widespread autoimmune disease of the skin that affects people of all