Eczema Patients

There are 2 topical prescription eczema drugs that do not contain steroids. These are called topical immunomodulators or TIMs. Both are effective in treating the itch and rash of eczema.

People try many things to relieve the itch of eczema. They use over-the-counter remedies they can get in a drugstore. They use prescription medications they get from their doctors.

The Seal of Acceptance may be awarded to products that do not contain ingredients known to irritate eczema or sensitive skin. The following list of irritants and contact allergens is presented as a guide only, as there are other ingredient categories such as vehicle components, surfactants, chemical sun blocks, preservatives and natural ingredients (oils, plant and food products) that require specific review.

Report by Peter M. Elias, M.D. Dermatology Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco. Both a defective skin barrier, as well as a tendency to develop secondary infections, are well-recognized features of atopic dermatitis (AD).

Protecting yourself or someone you care for from the sun’s damaging rays is not just a summertime concern. Exposure to the sun’s damaging rays can happen any time of year.

A report released in October 2005 by the National Eczema Association (NEA) offers guidance to both patients and physicians regarding the use of two common skin care medications that have been the subject of public health advisories by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In the NEA report, physicians from Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, Massachusetts, provide an independent review of the clinical benefits and potential cancer risks associated with the drugs Elidel (pimecrolimus) and Protopic (tacrolimus).

I hope to shed some light on the clinical aspects of atopic dermatitis, or eczema. I’m going to talk about the treatment of inflammation including the use of topical steroids and the calcineurin inhibitors Elidel and Protopic. I’ll also talk about treating itch and sleep disruption and infection. I hope to help you make sense of all the medicines used to treat this disease.

Harvey Leo, M.D. St. Joseph Medical Hospital: I sat with the children yesterday while they were playing in camp and it’s interesting that I’m here because when I ask the little kids how many of them actually have food allergies, probably about 80% of them raised their hand. Then I asked them how many of them ate the foods they were allergic to and half of them raised their hands. It’s actually an interesting insight and what I’ll talk about and kind of what things you guys have been told about as parents.

This article is an excerpt from Sandra Oehlke’s speech at the Fourth Annual National Eczema Association Patient Conference.

We all know that eczema is not infectious – one of the UK National Eczema Society’s messages for very many years. Damaged skin is vulnerable to infection, however, and infected eczema is one of the most common issues raised with the UK National Eczema Society’s helpline. In this article our information team looks at why this might be and what we can do about it.