AD is so polyetiological, chronic and unmeasurable that it is very difficult to prove scientifically the involvement of every factor. Under such situation, I think experiences of AD patients should be regarded as of more value as a clue to find possible aggravating factors which may lead us to preventive measures, effective therapies, or elucidation of the disease mechanisms. Personal courses of AD patients may contains piles of hints for improvement. That's why I show you my course here.
Severe AD patients are increasing and suffering day by day nevertheless all present medical therapies, urging some new effective therapy under unbearable bad condition.
Topical corticosteroids are the standard in AD therapy in Japan.("Guidelines for Therapy for AD 2003" by Japanese Dermatological Association recommends.)
Steroids, tacrolimus as well, have very strong immunosuppressive effect and often dramatically improve the symptoms of AD patients. But it does not cure AD; merely beat out symptoms.
In the long run, it may turn to be less effective, or may cause adverse effects like dependency, immunosuppression, and risks of withdrawal aggravation.
Oral antihistamine is another standard of AD, but even that medicine is described not to be preferable to allergy by Dr. Andrew Weil in his book "Natural Health, Natural medicine"(Japanese edition).
Suppressive medicines disturb spontaneous healing and may rather deteriorate the course.
Authoritative Japanese dermatologists put emphasis on the validity of steroids and tacrolimus, do not approve any other therapies(Chinese medicine is an exception), and label all of them to be quackery. For them AD patients who disagree this opinion are mere groundless "steroid-phobia".
So AD patients who intend to spontaneous healing or prefer mild therapies often cannot help avoiding dermatologist to make a try at alternative therapy alone.
I think the dermatologists' outlook is too narrow.
Patients can show them that they can heal without strong invasive therapy, and I wish to be one of such patient.
