At present, there is no known cure for eczema. While between ten and twenty percent of all babies in the United States suffer from eczema, most of them are free of the condition by the age of two. The reason for this is not well understood. What is known is that, depending on the type of eczema, several steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of future episodes.

In atopic eczema, exposure to an allergen may often act as a trigger for itching and dryness, scaling or redness of the skin. Sometimes, an allergen may remain unidentified, making it difficult to institute preventive measures. Often, an airborne allergen, like animal dander or dust, may be the trigger. In other cases, a particular foodstuff may cause an allergic reaction. Eliminating this food from the diet may result in milder symptoms or complete resolution.

People who suffer from contact eczema need to eliminate all contact with the offending substance for symptoms to resolve. The offending substance might be a chemical in detergent or bath and beauty products. Certain fabrics may also trigger eczematous skin reactions in susceptible people. Similarly, in dyshidrotic eczema, known triggers such as nickel costume jewelry should be avoided completely.

In general, the best treatment for eczema is to avoid any known or suspected trigger. If this is not possible, medical intervention may be the only alternative. Careful skin care and moisturizing can help reduce the severity of symptoms. Tar compounds may be useful to control the skin thickening and flaking of some types of eczema. Corticosteroid creams are often the mainstay of treatment, but if they are ineffective, steroids taken by mouth may be prescribed. While some new compounds called immune modulators may significantly reduce eczema symptoms, some of these compounds have potentially serious side effects and should only be used under direct medical supervision.