Common Antihistamines May Not Provide Actual Relief for People With Eczema
People often take antihistamines for eczema, but a large-scale meta-analysis now debunks their effectiveness and advises readers on treatments to use instead.
Dry, itchy, and bumpy skin—a common sign of eczema—plagues millions globally, from infants to adults. Many turn to over-the-counter antihistamines for relief during flare-ups. However, a major study from McMaster University raises doubts about the effectiveness of these common treatments. Researchers found that both first- and second-generation oral antihistamines offered little to no relief for eczema symptoms.
In fact, older first-generation antihistamines may even cause cognitive impairment due to their ability to enter the brain. Health experts now advise exploring alternative treatments such as moisturizers, topical anti-inflammatory agents, and more targeted therapies like phototherapy, biologics, and oral JAK inhibitors, which have proven more effective for managing eczema.
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