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Moisturize. Steroid cream. Repeat. If that's all you've been offered and your skin still flares, you're far from alone.
Eczema treatment goes well beyond moisturizer: prescription creams, light therapy, biologic injections and pills all help when basic care fails. This page covers the full range of eczema treatment in Wichita, the tests you can ask for, and what to do while you wait for an appointment.
Below, you'll find how dermatologists step up eczema treatment, how phototherapy works and what it costs, and how to get a Wichita dermatologist to look for what's driving your flares.
How do you get rid of eczema?
Eczema has no cure, but it can be controlled for long stretches. Daily moisturizing and avoiding triggers are the base. Flares are treated with prescription creams. Eczema that stays moderate to severe is treated with light therapy, biologic injections or pills.
| Level | Treatment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Every day | Thick fragrance-free moisturizer, gentle cleanser, short lukewarm showers | The base of every plan |
| Flares | Topical steroid creams and ointments | Strength matched to body area |
| Steroid-sparing creams | Tacrolimus, pimecrolimus, crisaborole, ruxolitinib cream | For the face, folds, or long-term use |
| Light therapy | Narrowband UVB, 2 to 3 sessions a week | For widespread eczema |
| Biologic injections | Dupilumab, tralokinumab, lebrikizumab | Moderate to severe eczema |
| Pills | Upadacitinib, abrocitinib (JAK inhibitors) | Moderate to severe; needs monitoring |
General guidance; the reviewer must confirm options and names. Your dermatologist decides based on your age, severity and health.
Which cream is best for eczema?
For flares, a prescription topical steroid is usually first. For the face and skin folds, or for long-term use, dermatologists often use non-steroid creams like tacrolimus or ruxolitinib. For daily care, a thick, fragrance-free cream or ointment works better than lotion.
What if steroid creams aren't working?
Ask your dermatologist to look for what's driving the flares. Tests can check for a skin infection, a contact allergy, or another condition that looks like eczema. If creams haven't controlled it, ask about light therapy, biologics or pills.
Being handed steroids again is the top frustration in eczema communities. One poster wrote: "I have never felt 'seen' by a dermatologist because they seem to almost always just prescribe steroids." Another described a new dermatologist who spent 40 minutes on their history, which "changed literally everything."
Tests and referrals that change eczema treatment:
- Skin swab or culture if the rash is crusting, weeping or not responding. One patient's "3 year long flare" turned out to involve staph, found only after they asked for testing.
- Patch testing for contact allergies to products, metals or fragrances.
- A skin biopsy if the diagnosis is uncertain.
- Referral to an allergist or immunologist for food or environmental allergies. One commenter said an immunologist was the only specialist who helped them.
Having eczema as a child doesn't mean adult flares are "just eczema." One poster said a dermatologist shut the conversation down as soon as childhood eczema came up. If something has changed, say so.
Pro Tip: Start your eczema treatment visit with one sentence: "I've used these creams for this long, and here's what happened." Bring the tubes or photos of the labels.
Why is my eczema so itchy?
Eczema weakens the skin barrier and triggers inflammation that sets off itch nerves. Scratching damages the skin further, which causes more itch. Breaking that cycle with moisturizer, anti-inflammatory creams and cool compresses is part of treatment. Itch that wakes you nightly needs stronger treatment.
What are the best vitamins for people with eczema?
No vitamin or supplement is proven to treat eczema for most people. Research on vitamin D is mixed. Source pending. Ask your dermatologist before starting supplements, especially for children.
What is phototherapy for eczema?
Phototherapy is a treatment where your skin is exposed to a measured dose of narrowband UVB light in a medical light box, usually 2 to 3 times a week for several weeks. It calms inflammation in widespread eczema. Several Wichita dermatology practices list phototherapy.
Wichita Dermatology & Aesthetics and The Dermatology Clinic, P.A., both list light therapy, an eczema treatment option, among their services. Ask whether the office near you has a light box and what hours it runs, since visits are frequent.
What are the downsides of phototherapy?
Frequent visits for weeks, temporary redness or sunburn-like irritation, and, with long-term use, a higher risk of skin aging and skin cancer. Your dermatologist tracks your total dose.
How much does phototherapy cost?
Each session is billed as a procedure. Insurance often covers it for eczema once other treatments haven't worked, but copays add up across repeat visits. Not yet verified
Can I do phototherapy at home?
Yes, with a prescription. Home narrowband UVB units exist, and insurance sometimes covers them. Your dermatologist sets the dose and schedule. Tanning beds aren't a substitute.
How do you get eczema treatment in Wichita?
Call several practices, ask for the first opening with any provider, and say if your eczema is severe or infected. First appointments often take months. If a rash is weeping, crusting, spreading fast or comes with fever, get care sooner through your primary care doctor.
While you wait for eczema treatment, keep up moisturizer, use any prescribed cream as directed, and keep a photo and trigger log. One poster summed up the wait: "Nothing is working. I have a dermatologist appointment in 4 months." Ask your primary care doctor about an urgent referral if you're in that spot.
A new-patient visit at Heartland Dermatology, the one top Wichita practice that publishes fees, is listed at $122.47 to $289.56 as standard fees. See our dermatologist cost guide. For children with eczema, see our pediatric dermatologist guide. Eczema on darker skin often looks purple, gray or brown; see our skin of color guide. For psoriasis, which also uses light therapy, see our psoriasis treatment guide. For other skin conditions, see our medical dermatology guide.
Ready for better eczema treatment? Request an appointment and we'll help you find a Wichita dermatologist for eczema treatment.
Eczema Treatment FAQs
Do biologic eczema treatments need insurance approval?
Usually, yes. Plans often require prior authorization showing creams didn't work. Manufacturer savings programs help with copays.
Can a dermatologist test what's causing my eczema?
Yes. Ask about patch testing for contact allergies and a swab if infection is possible. For food or environmental allergies, an allergist helps.
Is eczema contagious?
No. Eczema itself isn't contagious, though an infected patch sometimes spreads bacteria.
How long does phototherapy take to work as an eczema treatment?
Improvement usually appears after several weeks of sessions 2 to 3 times a week.
Do Wichita dermatologists treat children's eczema?
Yes. Several Wichita practices see children. Our pediatric guide explains who sees infants.
What's the difference between eczema and psoriasis?
Eczema is usually itchier, with less defined patches. Psoriasis tends to form thick, well-defined scaly plaques. A dermatologist tells them apart.
Should I stop steroid creams on my own?
No. Ask your dermatologist how to taper or switch, especially after long use.