A Potential New Era in Eczema Treatment

man_itch_bparallax_722151

Researchers at Yale School of Medicine performed a study confirming the efficacy in utilizing a rheumatoid arthritis drug to treat patients with moderate to severe eczema. Additionally, the drug recently showed success in treating vitiligo and alopecia areata, two other disfiguring skin diseases.

Eczema—also known as atopic dermatitis—is a chronic condition, that leaves skin red, causes severe itching and also affects sleep. According to Yale News, patients with moderate to severe eczema utilizing standard treatments such as steroid creams and oral medicines fail to see symptoms improving.

Six patients with moderate to severe eczema who previously tried conventional treatment with no success tested the rheumatoid arthritis therapy and reported a significant improvement in itching and sleeping patterns.

According to Brittany Craiglow, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology, Yale Dermatology-Middlebury and Brett Andrew King, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of dermatology, medical director, Yale Dermatology-Middlebury, eczema’s condition has no targeted treatment, but this study advocates a change in the standard for eczema therapy.

“Eczema affects millions of children and adults in the United States,” said King. “I’m hopeful we are entering a whole new era in treatment.”

Further research must be conducted to confirm the treatment’s long-term success and safety for eczema patients, added Craiglow and King.

More in Wellness