What Is the Aron Regimen for Eczema?

The Aron regimen is a treatment approach for eczema developed by Dr Richard Aron, a physician who has treated eczema patients for many years. It is based on the observation that, in many people with eczema, bacteria on the skin play a major role in keeping the condition active.

The core idea

Conventional treatment often addresses eczema one piece at a time: a moisturiser for dryness, a steroid for inflammation, an antibiotic if the skin looks infected. The Aron regimen treats all three together, in a single cream, from the start.

What is in the treatment?

The main treatment is a cream mixed by a specialist compounding pharmacy to an individual prescription. It combines:

• an anti-inflammatory steroid, at a strength chosen for the severity and the area of the body
• an antibacterial agent, to reduce Staphylococcus aureus on the skin
• a moisturising base, to support the skin barrier

Because the steroid is blended into a large volume of moisturiser, the cream can be applied generously over affected skin. Depending on the patient, the doctor may also recommend other measures, such as an antiseptic wash or, where infection is widespread, a short course of oral antibiotics.

How is it different from standard treatment?

• It is individualised. The strength and mix are tailored to each patient, and different areas (such as the face and body) may need different preparations.
• It treats bacteria routinely, not only when infection is obvious.
• It is used frequently at first, then reduced step by step as the skin improves.
• It is supervised. Progress is reviewed and the plan adjusted.

Who is it for?

The regimen is used for adults and children, including babies, with eczema that has not been controlled by standard treatment. It is not suitable for everyone, and a consultation is needed to decide whether it is appropriate for you.

What does the evidence say?

The regimen is based on established knowledge about the role of Staphylococcus aureus in eczema, and on many years of clinical experience. It has not been tested in large randomised controlled trials, and some guidelines advise caution about using topical antibiotics for long periods because of the risk of resistance. This is one reason treatment is supervised and reduced as the skin improves.

The Aron regimen at eczema-doc

Eczema-doc is a virtual clinic dedicated to treating eczema using the Aron regimen. We assess each patient by video consultation, prescribe an individual treatment plan, and review progress at two and four weeks.

Read our full guide to the Aron Regimen®.

Book a video consultation to find out if the Aron regimen is right for you.

This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice.

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