Reviewed by Mark Boguniewicz, MD
Day hospitalization at centers specializing in treatment of skin disorders, such as eczema, can be helpful for patients whose rashes are not controlled by medications and by avoiding irritants. Patients spend their days in a hospital and go home or to a local hotel at night. This can help get treatment back on track in several ways:
- It removes the patient from allergens in the home.
- It also allows the patient to be seen concurrently by a team of specialists: allergist-immunologists, psychosocial staff, nurse-educators, and nutritionists.
- Team members assist in a patient's self-care regimen so they can teach the patient proper techniques for atopic deramtitis therapy.
- This hospital time may be used for evaluating response to different medications, testing for specific eczema triggers, under controlled conditions and doing food challenges.
- Sleep disturbance and behavioral aspects of the disease can be addressed.
Most people's eczema improves significantly during hospitalization, so they are able to avoid more aggressive treatments. Day hospitalization programs usually last one to two weeks.