Mild irritant contact dermatitis and mild dry skin are regarded as self-limiting or minor conditions that are amenable to self-care with OTC treatments recommended by a pharmacist.³

Atopic eczema is a chronic condition and so prescribed emollient treatment is permissible. Although patients can have periods without any overt skin disease, experts describe this as sub-clinical eczema because the basic skin defects remain and the eczema could flare up at any time.

Table 2: Stepped care treatment options¹

Mild atopic eczema:

• Emollients
• Mild potency topical corticosteroids

Moderate atopic eczema:

• Emollients
• Moderate potency topical corticosteroids
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors
• Bandages

Severe atopic eczema:

• Emollients
• Potent topical corticosteroids
• Topical calcineurin inhibitors
• Bandages
• Phototherapy
• Systemic therapy.