Many eczema sufferers worry about eczema coming back after they get better, and hope to find a medication or method that will give them long-term relief. Some patients hope to change their constitution by taking “anti-allergy” medication, because eczema is related to “allergies” and “anti-allergy” medication should be able to “fight” allergies. This may sound reasonable. Does it really make sense? In fact, “anti-allergic” is a very general concept, many drugs have “anti-allergic” effect, for example: the most common type of anti-allergic drugs are paracetamol, loratadine, cetirizine and other drugs that we can easily buy in pharmacies, they all belong to Antihistamines, this class of drugs are mainly used to treat urticaria, allergic rhinitis, etc., for eczema patients also have a certain auxiliary antipruritic effect. Glucocorticoids, whether taken orally or topically, have a strong “anti-allergic” effect. In some severe allergic reactions, hormones can quickly and effectively control allergies. There are also some active ingredients derived from plants, such as glycyrrhizin, tretinoin, etc. These drugs have hormone-like effects (of course, much weaker than hormones) and inhibit immune inflammation, and also have “anti-allergic” effects. Some anti-rejection drugs (also called immunosuppressants) used after anti-tumor or organ transplantation, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclosporine, etc., can also inhibit various inflammatory substances during allergic reactions and are used in some severe eczema patients. Then again, the treatment of eczema is mainly a matter of choosing the right strength of topical glucocorticoid cream to control the inflammatory skin reaction, coupled with the use of skin moisturizers in adequate amounts to protect the skin from further stimulation by external substances. Most patients with mild to moderate eczema with limited area can achieve good results with topical treatment. For patients with severe, widespread rashes, in addition to topical medication and moisturizing care, the doctor will choose some oral anti-“allergy” medications according to the condition and the patient’s individual constitution, such as the above-mentioned plant-based anti-inflammatory drugs (glycyrrhizin or tretinoin) or immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine, methotrexate or azathioprine), when the condition is well controlled, the oral medication will be gradually reduced and discontinued, and then topical medications will continue to be used intermittently to maintain the treatment, together with plenty of moisturizing creams to keep the eczema from recurring. This principle of continuous adjustment of the treatment plan according to the condition is called “step therapy” and is recommended in both European and American and Chinese guidelines for the long-term treatment and management of eczema patients. Among the “anti-allergic” drugs mentioned above, glucocorticoids have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. For eczema patients, topical glucocorticoids can be used with good results and avoid local or systemic adverse skin reactions as long as they are used regularly. However, sometimes we encounter some eczema patients who take hormone drugs orally or by injection when their condition is acute or very serious, and continue to use them when their eczema is under control, which is likely to cause systemic adverse effects, especially on the growth and development of children. The child below has been taking hormones for a long time since he was one year old because of eczema, and as soon as he stopped taking the medication, his eczema would come back, so he continued to take the medication for two years. This child’s extraordinarily chubby face is the manifestation of a full-moon face after taking hormones for a long time, and there is also an obvious manifestation of hairiness. Some eczema patients also take antihistamines (most commonly loratadine, cetirizine and paracetamol) to “fight allergies”, which are very effective for hives, but for eczema, they mainly help relieve itching, especially at night when itching is obvious, and can be taken at bedtime to reduce itching and scratching at night. Antihistamines have no therapeutic effect on the inflammatory response to eczema (that is, the manifestations of erythema, edema, blistering and oozing). So when the eczema has improved with treatment and you can sleep well at night without scratching, the antihistamines can be stopped. Some eczema patients think that long-term use of antihistamines can not be allergic, but in fact, it is not justified. The actual fact is that you will be able to get a lot more than just a couple of days to get a lot more than just a couple of days. But long-term use also needs to be under the guidance of a doctor, and pay attention to monitoring adverse reactions; 4, immunosuppressive anti-allergic drugs, for patients with severe eczema, need to be used under the guidance of a doctor, and regular follow-up, the condition is controlled to gradually adjust the dose or stop the drug. Eczema patients need to adhere to long-term is the correct skin care habits, and need to choose the appropriate topical anti-inflammatory drugs (including a good safety topical hormone and tacrolimus a non-hormonal drugs) under the guidance of the doctor standard treatment and maintenance treatment, do not need long-term oral “anti-allergy” drugs.