In the "What's New" section of the NEA website we will post the latest news and information on a wide variety of topics. Come back often and stay in touch.

Postdate: May 8, 2010

FDA Working to Resolve Methoxsalen Shortage

Dermatologists have reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a shortage of methoxsalen, which is affecting patients undergoing psoralen plus UVA therapy (PUVA) to treat psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and other skin conditions. U.S. manufacturer Valeant Pharmaceuticals International acknowledges the shortage on its website, and reports that the shortage is "due to an unanticipated change in supplier of the active ingredient." The FDA, after receiving information from the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA) about the resulting hardship to patients, has agreed to allow importation of the drug under its personal importation policy (PIP).

Learn how to import methoxsalen from another country here

Postdate: March 31, 2010

Seeking Public Comment for Food Allergy Guidelines

The public comment period on “Guidelines of the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy” is now open on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) website. The purpose of these clinical practice guidelines is to provide standardized information and recommendations to healthcare providers for the diagnosis and treatment of food allergies.

The Public Comment Period Closes On May 6, 2010.

View draft guidelines and register your comments here.

Postdate: March 1, 2010

Announcing Sasha Scores for Kids with Eczema

Join the team to help children with this disease!
The first 100 donors ($25 and over) receive an autographed photo of NBA Player Sasha Vujacic.

NBA Player Sasha Vujacic of the LA Lakers is committed to raising awareness and providing support for children with eczema, and asks for your support. Together, through Sasha Scores for Kids Eczema, we can make a difference. Please give generously to this worthy cause – and, remember, the first 100 donors will receive an autographed photo! Read more about Sasha and Jarrett here.

Postdate: February 9, 2010

Research Measures Advance in Congress

The Senate passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on December 24, 2009, after months of negotiation to secure the required 60 votes. The Senate bill, which has been the starting point for final negotiations, includes a number of provisions of interest to the research community. Read more.

Postdate: February 9, 2010

NIAID Food Allergy Guidelines

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has established a Coordinating Committee (CC) that includes more than 30 professional organizations, Federal agencies, and patient advocacy groups to oversee the development of Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy. NEA CEO Julie Block is a member of the Coordinating Committee. Read more about the Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy.

Postdate: January 29, 2010

Free e-Book on Mind/Body Solutions for Skin Issues

Dr. Ted Grossbart, a well-known psychologist and Harvard Medical School professor, has made his book Skin Deep: A Mind-Body Program for Healthy Skin available as a free e-book for download. Dr. Grossbart teaches patients to use the power of their minds to heal chronic skin conditions. The book, which was co-authored with Dr. Carl Sherman and first published in 1986, has become a valuable resource for readers dealing with persistent skin problems.

"Since the first edition came out nearly 24 years ago, the book has been helping readers who are struggling with skin problems. It is my hope that its availability as a free, downloadable e-book will allow greater numbers of readers access to the mind/body solutions that have been so effective in my private practice," says Grossbart.

Download your copy of Skin Deep at grossbart.com.

Postdate: January 29, 2010

Neuron Path for Itch Revealed

Chronic itch is an often difficult and sometimes debilitating symptom of many skin diseases and other disorders. Researchers have been trying to determine for decades if there are separate neuronal pathways for pain and itch. However, studies of underlying mechanisms have long been complicated and hindered by the difficulties of distinguishing itch from pain at molecular and cellular levels. Now, researchers supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) have discovered itch-specific neurons which express a protein known as gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR) in the spinal cord of mice. Without GRPR-expressing neurons, there is no sensation of itch. The present study, recently published in Science, provides the most comprehensive behavioral evidence to support the idea that distinct subsets of neurons transmit the different sensations of pain and itch in the spinal cord.

For more information and to read the full article >>>

Postdate: January 5, 2010

Welcome to Our New CEO!
Julie Block

The NEA Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of Julie Block as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Eczema Association. Many of you know Julie from interactions during the last two years when she served as the Vice President, Programs for the Association. Julie has tremendous leadership skills and a renewed vision for NEA in this stage of its growth.

Julie has gathered a host of strong and impressive administrative, organizational and leadership credentials throughout her career. She previously held positions in public education, arts education, and non-profit leadership development. While serving as a Program Director at Harvard Medical School, she directed a variety of programs and new initiatives in the Office of the Dean. Throughout her career, including brief stints in the corporate sector, she has continued her voluntary involvement with several local schools, the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Marin Arts Council, Music in the Parks, Youth in Arts, and Very Special Arts for children with special needs.

While at NEA, she has successfully implemented the Eczema and Sensitive Skin (EASE) program, the EASE website, the Seal of Acceptance Program, and the new NEA website, and she has established several corporate sponsorships and ongoing projects. Julie also has been an incredible editor of the NEA Advocate newsletter, the E-Insights electronic newsletter, and other media communications.

We wholeheartedly welcome Julie to her new position in the Association and we wish her wonderful success in achieving all her personal and organizational goals.

Postdate: October 1, 2009

October is National Eczema Association Eczema Awareness Month. This month we do all we can to help raise awareness about this disease, and educate the general public on the burden eczema sufferers endure. Contact your local newspaper, radio and media outlets to cover your story. Have a fundraiser to support the National Eczema Association and our efforts to support eczema patients and their caregivers.

Postdate: September 24, 2009

SAVE THE DATE

Sixth National Eczema Association Patient Conference Thursday, August 5 through Sunday, August 8, 2010 Chicago, Illinois

In Collaboration with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Dermatology and the Northwestern University Eczema Care & Education Center

The National Eczema Association will host the Sixth National Eczema Association Patient Conference in Chicago next August.

The eczema patient conference is a life-changing event for individuals of all ages in the eczema community. It provides an opportunity for people to interact with others who share the same challenges—and they appreciate learning they are not alone! Participants also gain knowledge of the most current medical treatments, skin care information, support activities nationwide, and ongoing research in the field.

As in past years, the Eczema Patient Conference includes a Children’s Conference Camp, which supports children with eczema by cultivating their self-esteem and confidence. The camp provides activities for kids ages 5 to 12 and teens ages 13 to 17. Support arises spontaneously as the children interact with others who have eczema, as well as their siblings and friends. Creative arts, activities, and field trips are interspersed throughout the Eczema Children’s Conference Camp.

The sixth conference is being held in collaboration with Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Dermatology, chaired by Amy Paller, MD, and the Northwestern Eczema Care and Education Center, directed by Peter Lio, MD. A Continuing Medical Education Seminar for medical professionals will be held concurrently with our Saturday patient program. Patients, physicians and other healthcare professionals will participate in interactive sessions. Both the patient and professional programs will be led by excellent faculty members who will provide educational sessions on a broad set of topics including atopic dermatitis, food allergies, asthma, skin infections, and the latest in research and evolving treatment strategies.

Mark you calendar now! See you in Chicago in 2010.

Registration materials will be available in early 2010. You may request a registration booklet from the National Eczema Association office by calling (415) 499-3474 or toll free (800) 818-7546, or by writing to us at .

Postdate: September 22, 2009

Dear NEA Community Member,

As the health care reform debate has intensified in recent months, conflicting information about the various bills before Congress has been presented in the national media. In addition, information has been changing at a very rapid pace. At times, it has become difficult to determine what is true and current.

The National Health Council (NHC) will be hosting a webinar on October 13 at 3:00 p.m. EST to dispel common misconceptions and offer an up-to-the-minute explanation of how proposed health reform legislation will affect people with chronic conditions and their family caregivers. The NHC will also detail its efforts to ensure that patients remain a top priority of decision makers during the health reform debate.

If you are interested in learning more about health reform and its potential effect on people with chronic conditions, please register at www.puttingpatientsfirst.net/webinar. The registration form will also allow you to ask one question that you would like answered during the webinar.

The deadline for registering for this event is Monday, October 5.

Postdate: September 16, 2009

NeedyMeds.org and the National Eczema Association announce a new source of information on medications used for eczema and financial resources to help assist with the cost of medications.

Press Release in Adobe PDF Format

Postdate: September 10, 2009

Jarrett Kageyama is Only Three, but He Knows All His Lakers Numbers

A few weeks back, Eric Kageyama made a video of his son, Jarrett called "Lakers & Lamar Odom 3-year-old Super Fan". He posted it on YouTube, and with a few tweets from NBA star Lamar Odom, the video has now received over 50,000 views. Take a look at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wDgJ3AjLbw.

Jarrett has had severe eczema and allergies since he was three months old. Through strong medications, therapies, experimentation and time, he has improved. But for nearly three years, everyday has been a struggle to prevent him from scratching his entire body to ribbons. The Los Angeles Lakers basketball team provides a great distraction to help get his mind off scratching. The Lakers are a part of his everyday life: his lotions are "Kobe Cream" and "Magic"; his pajamas are "Kobe Clothes"; he brushes his teeth to the players’ jersey numbers. Whatever works, right?

The YouTube video has propelled further media awareness about eczema, and the coping strategies the Kageyama family have learned to help Jarrett deal with the challenges. Eric appeared on the ESPN Radio Show: Mason & Ireland on September 4. A podcast of the show can be downloaded at: stations.espn.go.com/stations/710espn/archive?id=2682382.

Two articles have been written about Jarrett and the video. The Los Angeles Japanese Daily News paper, Rafu Shimpo, published a story on September 6, 2009 rafu.com/news/?p=4374.

Tom Hoffarth wrote in his blog: "Father off the Wall" blog in the LA Daily News on September 4, 2009: www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth/archives/2009/09/whos-no-1-this.html.

Thank you to the Kageyama family for raising awareness about eczema, telling their story, and sharing their unique coping strategies with the National Eczema Association community.

Postdate: June 25, 2009

The National Eczema Association has launched E-Insights, an electronic newsletter which provides information on the issues that matter to you. To receive a copy of E-Insights directly to your inbox, please Sign-In. To read the latest issue of E-Insights, go to: E-Insights Page

Postdate: April 21, 2009

Are you interested in participating in eczema research? Please be sure to learn what a clinical research trial is and current research being conducted that you may wish to participate on the Clinical Trials Research section of the website.

Postdate: March 6, 2009

National Eczema Association 20th Anniversary Gala

The National Eczema Association celebrated 20 years of research, support and education, and honored the NEA Founder, Jon M. Hanifin at March 5, 2009. The gala event was held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco.

It's not too late to express your gratitude and support for Dr. Hanifin's international contributions to eczema research and founding of NEA. Contact the NEA office for more information. The 3rd Quarter 2009 NEA newsletter, the Advocate, will be devoted to a recap of the evening's festivities.

Click on any image below for a larger picture.

Susan Tofte, RN, Dr. Jon Hanifin (Guest of Honor), Honorary Committee Members Drs. James Butler and Ronald Brancaccio, and Honorary Chair, Dr. Diane Baker. Chris Kalabokes with NEA Chief Executive Officer, Vicki Kalabokes. Melissa Howlett, Charles Hanifin, and Organizing Chair, Irene Crosby.

Postdate: January 14, 2009

National Eczema Association applauds the start of the first U.S. study investigating a potential new treatment for patients with severe chronic hand eczema

The National Eczema Association (NEA) applauds the news from Basilea Pharmaceutica that the HANDEL clinical study (HAND Eczema research of aLitretinoin study) has opened for enrollment.

The HANDEL study is a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial that will investigate the efficacy and safety of alitretinoin in the treatment of patients with severe CHE who have not responded to potent topical steroids. In the HANDEL study participants will be randomized to receive oral alitretinoin or placebo for up to 24 weeks.

Are you interested in participating in this Clinical Trial for Hand Eczema? Please contact Julie Block at in the NEA office at (800) 818-7546 or .

Read more at: Clinical Trials.