Eczema Over-the-counter medicine Treatments
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HIGHEST EFFICACY IN CATEGORY
Zyrtec(Cetirizine)If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesOral dailyLowSide Effect Affected Urticaria (skin rash) 5% KEY TAKEAWAYSCetirizine is effective at reducing itching and other skin symptoms in both children and adults with atopic dermatitisStudy Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Cetirizine helped reduce itching and other symptoms of atopic dermatitis in adults, with better results at higher doses (40mg). The medication was most effective at reducing itching, redness, and skin thickening compared to placebo.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 178Severity: not availableAge: 18+Higher doses of cetirizine were more effective at improving symptoms, with 40mg showing the best results Long-term use of cetirizine is safe, even in young children. Studies showed no negative effects on behavior, thinking ability, or physical development when used for up to 18 monthsStudy Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Cetirizine was found to be safe for long-term use in young children with atopic dermatitis. The medication showed similar or fewer side effects compared to placebo over 18 months of treatment.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 817Severity: not availableAge: 12-24 monthsThis was primarily a safety study Cetirizine can help reduce the need for strong topical steroids in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitisStudy Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Long-term use of cetirizine in infants with atopic dermatitis helped reduce the need for stronger topical steroids, especially in patients with more severe disease. The medication also significantly reduced the occurrence of hives compared to placebo (5.8% vs 16.2%).Clinical Trial Total Patients: 817Severity: not specifiedAge: 12-24 monthsIn children with atopic dermatitis who are allergic to grass pollen or dust mites, cetirizine may help prevent or delay the development of asthmaStudy Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄In infants with atopic dermatitis who were allergic to grass pollen or house dust mites, cetirizine treatment for 18 months helped prevent or delay the development of asthma. This protective effect was particularly strong and lasted for 36 months in children allergic to grass pollen.Clinical Trial Severity: not availableAge: 1-2 yearsCetirizine prevented/delayed asthma development in sensitized infants -
HIGHEST EFFICACY IN CATEGORY
Zyrtec (Cetirizine)Who is this for?:If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesEffectiveness:Side Effects:LowCost:Delivery:Oral dailySee EvidenceGet This TreatmentKEY TAKEAWAYS
Cetirizine is effective at reducing itching and other skin symptoms in both children and adults with atopic dermatitis
Summary:Cetirizine helped reduce itching and other symptoms of atopic dermatitis in adults, with better results at higher doses (40mg). The medication was most effective at reducing itching, redness, and skin thickening compared to placebo.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 178Severity: not availableAge: 18+Results:Higher doses of cetirizine were more effective at improving symptoms, with 40mg showing the best results
Long-term use of cetirizine is safe, even in young children. Studies showed no negative effects on behavior, thinking ability, or physical development when used for up to 18 months
Summary:Cetirizine was found to be safe for long-term use in young children with atopic dermatitis. The medication showed similar or fewer side effects compared to placebo over 18 months of treatment.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 817Severity: not availableAge: 12-24 monthsResults:This was primarily a safety study
Cetirizine can help reduce the need for strong topical steroids in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
Summary:Long-term use of cetirizine in infants with atopic dermatitis helped reduce the need for stronger topical steroids, especially in patients with more severe disease. The medication also significantly reduced the occurrence of hives compared to placebo (5.8% vs 16.2%).Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 817Severity: not specifiedAge: 12-24 monthsResults:
In children with atopic dermatitis who are allergic to grass pollen or dust mites, cetirizine may help prevent or delay the development of asthma
Summary:In infants with atopic dermatitis who were allergic to grass pollen or house dust mites, cetirizine treatment for 18 months helped prevent or delay the development of asthma. This protective effect was particularly strong and lasted for 36 months in children allergic to grass pollen.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Severity: not availableAge: 1-2 yearsResults:Cetirizine prevented/delayed asthma development in sensitized infants
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Allegra(Fexofenadine)If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesOral dailyLowSide Effect Affected KEY TAKEAWAYSWhen combined with topical corticosteroids, fexofenadine significantly reduces itching (pruritus) in people with atopic dermatitis. The improvement in itching can be noticed after just 1 day of treatment.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week Fexofenadine helps reduce itching both during the day and at night, and can decrease the area of skin affected by itching.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week Fexofenadine is generally safe to use, with side effects similar to those experienced by people taking a placebo (sugar pill).Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week -
Allegra (Fexofenadine)Who is this for?:If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesEffectiveness:Side Effects:LowCost:Delivery:Oral dailySee EvidenceGet This TreatmentKEY TAKEAWAYS
When combined with topical corticosteroids, fexofenadine significantly reduces itching (pruritus) in people with atopic dermatitis. The improvement in itching can be noticed after just 1 day of treatment.
Summary:Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Results:Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week
Fexofenadine helps reduce itching both during the day and at night, and can decrease the area of skin affected by itching.
Summary:Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Results:Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week
Fexofenadine is generally safe to use, with side effects similar to those experienced by people taking a placebo (sugar pill).
Summary:Adding fexofenadine (an antihistamine) to topical hydrocortisone helped reduce itching in patients with atopic dermatitis more effectively than hydrocortisone alone. The improvement in itching was seen after just 1 day of treatment and continued throughout the study week.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 400Severity: not availableAge: 16+Results:Fexofenadine significantly reduced itching compared to placebo, with improvements seen after 1 day and maintained throughout the week
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LOWEST SIDE EFFECTS
Claritin(Loratadine)If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesOral dailyLowSide Effect Affected somnolence/sedation KEY TAKEAWAYSLoratadine can help reduce itching (pruritus) in people with atopic dermatitis, both during the day and night. More than half of patients showed positive response to the treatment.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Loratadine significantly reduced itching (pruritus) in patients with atopic dermatitis compared to placebo, both during day and night. At least 9 out of 16 patients responded positively to the treatment.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 16Majority of patients (at least 56%) responded positively to loratadine treatment 📄Loratadine was found to be as effective as hydroxyzine in treating atopic dermatitis symptoms, reducing symptoms by 57%. Importantly, loratadine caused much less drowsiness than hydroxyzine, with only one patient reporting sleepiness compared to eight patients on hydroxyzine.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 41Severity: not availableAge: 18-65Loratadine showed better symptom reduction than both hydroxyzine and placebo Loratadine is as effective as hydroxyzine (another antihistamine) for treating symptoms, but causes much less drowsiness. Only 5% of patients on loratadine reported feeling sleepy compared to 40% of those taking hydroxyzine.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄Loratadine was found to be as effective as hydroxyzine in treating atopic dermatitis symptoms, reducing symptoms by 57%. Importantly, loratadine caused much less drowsiness than hydroxyzine, with only one patient reporting sleepiness compared to eight patients on hydroxyzine.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 41Severity: not availableAge: 18-65Loratadine showed better symptom reduction than both hydroxyzine and placebo When used alongside strong topical steroids (like mometasone cream), loratadine may not provide additional benefits, though it remains safe to use with no serious side effects.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄The study found that adding loratadine (an antihistamine) to mometasone cream treatment did not provide additional benefits for children with atopic dermatitis. The mometasone cream alone was very effective in treating the condition.Clinical Trial Total Patients: 48Severity: not availableAge: mean age 73.67 months (approximately 6 years)Both groups showed significant improvement, with no difference between loratadine and placebo groups (p = 0.99) A newer version of loratadine (desloratadine) combined with other medications may be effective for treating eczema and reducing inflammation.Study Summary Study Type Studied Population Results 📄The combination of desloratadine citrate and compound glycyrrhizin was more effective in treating subacute eczema compared to compound glycyrrhizin alone. The combination therapy showed lower inflammation markers and fewer side effects.Randomized Controlled Trial Total Patients: 100Severity: subacuteAge: not availableThe combination therapy was more effective in reducing inflammation -
LOWEST SIDE EFFECTS
Claritin (Loratadine)Who is this for?:If your AD is related to allergiesIf your AD is related to allergiesEffectiveness:Side Effects:LowCost:Delivery:Oral dailySee EvidenceGet This TreatmentKEY TAKEAWAYS
Loratadine can help reduce itching (pruritus) in people with atopic dermatitis, both during the day and night. More than half of patients showed positive response to the treatment.
Summary:Loratadine significantly reduced itching (pruritus) in patients with atopic dermatitis compared to placebo, both during day and night. At least 9 out of 16 patients responded positively to the treatment.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 16Results:Majority of patients (at least 56%) responded positively to loratadine treatment
Summary:Loratadine was found to be as effective as hydroxyzine in treating atopic dermatitis symptoms, reducing symptoms by 57%. Importantly, loratadine caused much less drowsiness than hydroxyzine, with only one patient reporting sleepiness compared to eight patients on hydroxyzine.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 41Severity: not availableAge: 18-65Results:Loratadine showed better symptom reduction than both hydroxyzine and placebo
Loratadine is as effective as hydroxyzine (another antihistamine) for treating symptoms, but causes much less drowsiness. Only 5% of patients on loratadine reported feeling sleepy compared to 40% of those taking hydroxyzine.
Summary:Loratadine was found to be as effective as hydroxyzine in treating atopic dermatitis symptoms, reducing symptoms by 57%. Importantly, loratadine caused much less drowsiness than hydroxyzine, with only one patient reporting sleepiness compared to eight patients on hydroxyzine.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 41Severity: not availableAge: 18-65Results:Loratadine showed better symptom reduction than both hydroxyzine and placebo
When used alongside strong topical steroids (like mometasone cream), loratadine may not provide additional benefits, though it remains safe to use with no serious side effects.
Summary:The study found that adding loratadine (an antihistamine) to mometasone cream treatment did not provide additional benefits for children with atopic dermatitis. The mometasone cream alone was very effective in treating the condition.Study Type:Clinical TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 48Severity: not availableAge: mean age 73.67 months (approximately 6 years)Results:Both groups showed significant improvement, with no difference between loratadine and placebo groups (p = 0.99)
A newer version of loratadine (desloratadine) combined with other medications may be effective for treating eczema and reducing inflammation.
Summary:The combination of desloratadine citrate and compound glycyrrhizin was more effective in treating subacute eczema compared to compound glycyrrhizin alone. The combination therapy showed lower inflammation markers and fewer side effects.Study Type:Randomized Controlled TrialStudied Population:Total Patients: 100Severity: subacuteAge: not availableResults:The combination therapy was more effective in reducing inflammation
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