Study finds antihistamines ineffective for eczema and risky

A comprehensive new analysis of existing medical research has concluded that oral antihistamines, a common over-the-counter and prescription remedy, provide no clinically meaningful benefit for managing eczema and may cause harm, particularly older sedating varieties. The findings, published in The BMJ on July 29, 2026, challenge a longstanding practice in dermatology and are expected to influence updated clinical guidelines.

The systematic review and network meta-analysis, led by researchers at McMaster University in Canada, examined 47 randomized controlled trials involving more than 6,200 children and adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema. The study assessed both first-generation antihistamines, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), and second-generation, non-sedating options like cetirizine (Zyrtec) and loratadine (Claritin).

The analysis found that neither type of antihistamine led to improvements that patients would notice in their daily lives regarding itch severity, sleep quality, or the frequency of eczema flare-ups when compared to a placebo. While second-generation antihistamines produced statistically small reductions in severity...