Are Antihistamines Helpful For My Child's Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)?

— -- Question: Are antihistamines helpful for my child's atopic dermatitis (eczema)?

Answer: We find that the older, sedating antihistamines can be helpful in managing the difficult to control itching and scratching behavior that our patients with atopic dermatitis often exhibit.

However, they would then be used primarily at bedtime, or possibly with naps, exploiting that sedating effect that they have.

We wouldn't want our patients necessarily to be drowsy during the day, especially school-age children.

The newer, non-sedating antihistamines then have less of an effect on the itch that our patients feel and may be more helpful for controlling some of the hive-like symptoms that our patients experience.

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