When I had eczema last summer, I spent the first month using cortisone and anti-itch creams.
What I found most disturbing was the inability to sleep due to the itching.
I am not someone who likes to take pills, but I found I needed to take an antihistamine each night to be able to perform properly at my job.
During the day, I took a milder antihistamine such as the non-drowsy formulas that are used for allergies.
Though this afforded some relief from the inflammation and itching, it didn't seem to address the root of the problem or stop new bumps from emerging.
I spent time in the ocean and bathing in the sun, hoping that this would clear my red patches and irritations.
It wasn't till I saw the third dermatologist that I learned a critical mistake I had been making.
I was not using a moisturizer.
The two dermatologists I saw before him, did not mention the importance of this but emphasized cortisone ointments and creams.
The third dermatologist mentioned  moisturizing as very important for nummular eczema (and all forms of eczema including atopic, discoid and contact dermatitis).
He recommended the ones for sensitive skin.
I would alternate these with the cortisone, using each twice a day.
I also found using neem oil, vitamin e , olive oil and coconut oil externally very helpful.
Not wanting to leave out anything that was helpful, I took a number of supplements as well including a multi-vitamin, b-complex for stress relief, calcium and flax seed oil internally.
Cutting back on the common foods that cause allergies also seemed to assist my skin in improving.
I wasn't sure why previous dermatologists I consulted with left out the moisturizing component, but this was a critical piece of information that made a difference in the eczema rash subsiding.