Try to make AD treatments part of a daily, family routine. Encourage children with AD to do what they can on their own. Creams may be fine for moderately dry skin or in hot, humid weather. Apply them to wet skin, immediately after bathing. Lotions and oils are not rich enough and often have a net drying effect on AD skin.
Corticosteroid medicines are very helpful.
Often they are the only treatment that can calm the inflamed skin. Use of steroid ointments and creams requires good judgment and careful supervision. They come in many strengths from mild to super-potent. Hydrocortisone is quite safe. The more potent ones can cause thinned skin, stretch marks and other problems if used too many days in the same areas of the body.