Table of contents:
- Doctor's choice of drugs to treat skin diseases
- Anti Virus
- Antibiotics
- Antifungal
- Rub
- Drink
- Isotretinoin
- Anthralin
- Corticosteroids
- Salicylic acid
- Enzyme inhibitors
- Immunosuppressants
- Other medical treatments for skin diseases
- Home remedies for treating skin ailments
- Bathing routinely
- Use a skin moisturizer
- Compress the skin
- Change your diet
- Limit sun exposure
There are countless medications and treatment options for treating skin diseases. Usually treatment is done to help relieve symptoms and cure the disease so that it does not come again. For those of you who have skin diseases, here are various drug options plus home treatments to consider.
Doctor's choice of drugs to treat skin diseases
Medicines used to treat skin diseases are usually of two types, namely topicals (including sprays) and drinking (pills and tablets). However, it is also possible that there are drugs that are injected directly into the body to make it work faster.
The following are various drug options to treat skin diseases.
Anti Virus
Antivirus is a drug for skin diseases caused by viruses such as chickenpox, herpes, and shingles. Some of the widely used antiviral drugs are:
- Acyclovir (Zovirax),
- Famciclovir (Famvir), and
- Valacyclovir (Valtrex).
These drugs cannot completely kill the virus from the body, but work to reduce the risk of spreading, reduce the severity and duration of the infection, and prevent a person from becoming infected with the virus in the future.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics are drugs used to kill or inhibit bacterial growth. Therefore, this drug is also often referred to as an antibacterial.
Usually, skin diseases that require antibacterial drugs are Staphylococcus bacterial infections such as impetigo and Streptoccocus bacterial infections such as cellulitis or ulcers. Several types of drugs include penicillins (penicillin G, amoxicillin, flucloxacillin), cephalosporins (cefoxitin, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone), and tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline, lymecycline).
Sometimes antibiotics can cause side effects that range from a minor problem such as a rash to a serious problem such as an antibiotic-resistant infection or a diarrhea-causing C. diff infection. Call your doctor if you experience side effects while taking antibiotics.
Antifungal
Antifungal drugs are used to treat skin problems caused by fungal infections such as ringworm and water fleas. There are two types of antifungal drugs, namely those that are applied and taken orally.
Rub
Miconazole is a fungal infection drug that works by preventing fungal growth. Topical anti-fungal medications should only be applied to problem areas of the skin.
If the medicine that your doctor gave you is in the form of a spray, shake it first before using it. After using the medicine, wash your hands thoroughly with soap.
Continue treatment until the time limit has been determined. This is done to cause the fungus to continue to grow and cause the infection to recur.
Drink
Oral antifungal drugs are usually needed to treat skin diseases caused by fungal infections that are already severe and have spread to other parts of the body, cannot be treated with topical drugs, or attack hairy areas.
Usually the dose and duration of treatment depends on the type of fungus that is infecting, the body part that is affected, and any other diseases you have.
The oral antifungal drugs that are usually prescribed for fungal infections are itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole, and voriconazole or posaconazole tablets if the infection is serious.
Isotretinoin
Isotretinoin is a drug derived from vitamin A (retinoid). This drug has the original brands Accutane® and Roaccutane®. Apart from being very effective in being used for acne, this drug can also treat other skin diseases, namely as follows.
- Rosacea
- Seborrhoea
- Scalp folliculitis
- Discoid lupus erythematosus
- Actinic keratosis is severe
- Squamous cell carcinoma
Anthralin
This drug is used to treat psorasis. Anthralin works by slowing down the growth of skin cells. That way, the production of skin cells can be controlled so that they no longer accumulate on the surface.
Anthralin is a drug used to treat long-term psoriasis. Therefore, it is not used for severe psoriasis. Also, do not use this medication if the skin is inflamed or irritated.
Anthralin is available as a cream or shampoo. You need to follow your doctor's instructions regarding how to use, dosage, and how long this medicine is left on the skin.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, including drugs that are available in various forms, namely topical and drinking or injection. This drug is widely used to treat various skin problems such as eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, or other irritants.
This drug works by reducing inflammation and irritation of the skin. For drinking corticosteroid drugs, some types that are usually prescribed by doctors are prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone, and beclomethasone.
As for topical drugs, the doctor will provide drugs according to the severity of the condition. The following types of corticoseteroid drugs to treat skin diseases are commonly given.
- Corticosteroids are very strong, betamethasone dipropionate, clobetasol propionate (Clobex, Temovate, Olux).
- Strong corticosteroids, amcinonide (Cylocort), desoximetasone (Topicort, Topicort LP), halcinonide (Halog).
- Moderate corticosteroids, betamethasone valerate (Luxiq), clocortolone pivalate (Cloderm).
- Corticosteroid dose rend, alclometasone dipropionate (Aclovate), desonide (Desowen), and hydrocortisone.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid is an active ingredient in many skin care products, especially for treating acne, seborrheic dermatitis, and warts.
These drugs work by increasing the moisture in the skin and dissolving substances that cause skin cells to stick together. That way, skin cells can be more easily removed and exfoliated. However, this medicine cannot be used for warts caused by viruses.
Enzyme inhibitors
Enzyme inhibitors or enzyme inhibitors work in the immune system to fight inflammation. This drug is usually used to treat skin problems due to inflammation such as eczema.
One type is Eucrisa, an enzyme inhibitor drug that is often used to treat mild to moderate atopic dermatitis or eczema.
Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine (Imuran) and methotrexate (Trexall), are used to treat psoriasis and severe eczema. Immunosuppressants work by controlling the immune system to slow down skin symptoms. This medication can help reduce itching and allow the skin to heal.
Remember, whatever medication is prescribed to you, be sure to use it according to the instructions from your doctor. If necessary, record all the rules given so that you don't take a wrong step and the medicine can work optimally.
Other medical treatments for skin diseases
Light or laser therapy is widely used to help treat various skin problems including psoriasis, vitiligo, scleroderma, and others in addition to medications prescribed by doctors.
This therapy works by slowing down cell growth and inflammation of the problematic skin. In addition to treatment, this therapy is also widely used to improve the appearance of the skin.
Reporting from the University of Chicago Medicine page, there are several types of light therapy that are usually used, namely:
- Ultraviolet light B (UVB) band therapy, to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, and other skin inflammatory problems by using artificial UVB rays.
- Psoralen and UVA light therapy, combining UV radiation and oral and topical medications for psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo
- Excimer laser therapy, to treat psoriasis, vitiligo, and dermatitis without damaging healthy skin
- Blue light photodynamic therapy, to treat acne and fight skin disease actinic keratosis
- Cyrosurgery, a mild freezing process using nitrogen to the extreme cold which is used to destroy the abnormal skin tissue. Done to treat acne or certain types of skin cancer.
Home remedies for treating skin ailments
In the process of healing skin diseases, sometimes you can't rely on medication from a doctor alone. There is also a need to make some lifestyle changes. One of the things you shouldn't do is scratch the affected area. Apart from that, do the following steps.
Bathing routinely
Bathing not only cleanses the body of germs but is also good for moisturizing the skin. Especially if you have a skin disease that makes your skin very dry, such as eczema and psoriasis.
However, don't just take a shower. You need to pay attention to the soap and shampoo used. Choose products that are soft, foam-free, and fragrance-free so they don't irritate the skin. Also reduce the use of products with coarse particles such as scrub this product could cause injury or irritation.
Use warm water, not too hot or too cold to prevent dry skin. Also remember not to shower too often, at least shower once a day for about 10-15 minutes.
Use a skin moisturizer
After bathing, you must use a moisturizer for the entire skin. The goal is that the skin is protected from dryness which can increase the risk of infection.
Choose a moisturizer that is suitable and safe for your skin. If in doubt, consult a doctor and ask for recommendations for products from him that are safe to use together with other skin disease medications.
Compress the skin
Applying hot or cold water to the skin can help relieve itching without scratching it. You can easily do this method at home armed with a small basin, water, and a small towel.
You only need to soak a small towel in a basin of hot or cold water. Then, squeeze and stick it to the part of the skin that feels itchy. Repeat until you feel much better.
Change your diet
Did you know, the food you consume on a daily basis also has an effect on the condition of your skin. Likewise if you want to reduce the symptoms of some skin problems such as acne, eczema, psoriasis. The reason is, there are several types of foods that are more prone to causing inflammation of the skin which of course can exacerbate symptoms.
Therefore, treatment with medication for skin diseases from a doctor should also be accompanied by changes in diet. For those who are struggling with acne problems, for example, excess sugar will trigger inflammation, which becomes an active component of acne.
That means if you don't want your acne to get worse, start reducing sugar in the food you eat.
Limit sun exposure
Although sunbathing in the morning is good for skin health, too long in the sun is not recommended. For most skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and rosacea, excess sun exposure can make the condition worse.
For that, you should limit exposure to direct sunlight to the skin, especially during the day. Wear closed clothes and don't forget to wear sunscreen before doing outdoor activities.