There’s good news for the 31 million people in the U.S. who suffer with eczema. A number of new treatments were approved in 2024 and the National Eczema Association reports that there are close to 100 additional therapies in the pipeline intended to treat the uncomfortable skin condition, with potential to help symptoms such as itch and redness, improve the skin barrier and calm the immune system.
In fact, Neil Heskel, M.D., a dermatologist with his own practice in Vero Beach, says the abundance of treatments is almost like “the flavor of the month.”
“This new methodology is very effective because it can be applied to specific targets,” Dr. Heskel says. “In the past, we just did a general ‘blast,’ usually with steroids. Even though biologics were available 20 years ago, they were much more non-specific. Today’s treatments can really zero in on specific cells.”
Janus kinase inhibitor, also known as JAK, is a type of immune modulating medication that is changing people’s lives. The American Academy of Dermatology Association explains that a JAK inhibitor interferes with signals in the body that are thought to cause inflammation. This, in turn, reduces the inflammation that fuels diseases like eczema, psoriatic arthritis and vitiligo. With less inflammation, the immune system calms down.
JAK inhibitors target specific enzymes involved in inflammation. They’re made from chemicals and have simple structures.
Biologics, on the other hand, are complex medications that come from living sources. Both are used to treat several of the same medical conditions. It’s possible that you may be prescribed one or the other – but not both.
Eczema, a chronic condition that may cause dry, itchy, scaly skin as well as painful skin lesions or blisters, is an umbrella term covering seven different inflammatory skin conditions: atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, dyshidrotic eczema, neurodermatitis, nummular eczema and stasis dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema. It often begins in infancy, affecting about 15-20 percent of children, although it usually improves as the child grows older and may resolve by school age or puberty.
Dr. Heskel says many of the new treatments are safe for children as young as six months.
The National Eczema Organization provides information on new eczema treatments approved by the FDA in 2024:
- A new topical cream, Zoryve (roflumilast cream 0.15 percent) is a PDE4 inhibitor topical cream developed by Arcutis Biotherapeutics for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children ages 6 years and older.
- A new biologic, Ebglyss (lebrikizumab-lbkz) is an IL-13 inhibitor from manufacturer Eli Lilly and Company for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults and children 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds.
- A new biologic, Nemluvio (nemolizumab-ilto) is an IL-31 inhibitor developed by Galderma for people ages 12 and older with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, in combination with topical corticosteroids and/or calcineurin inhibitors, whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies.
- A new nonsteroidal topical, Vtama (tapinarof) cream (1 percent), is an aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist and nonsteroidal topical cream from drugmaker for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in adults and children 2 years of age and older.
Dr. Heskel explains that getting the proper treatment for your type of eczema is of the utmost importance. “Sometimes eczema migrates from one type to another as children get older.
“The disease affects people of all ages. Symptoms will disappear and reappear throughout a person’s lifetime and can vary as we grow older.”
He adds, “Changes in fetal cord blood indicate there is a genetic connection and that eczema tends to run in families. One bit of good news is that it doesn’t usually affect internal organs.”
Dr. Heskel offers some tips on how to deal with the discomfort caused by eczema. “Be sure to moisturize your skin after bathing or showering. Try a hydrocortisone cream on your face.
“Food doesn’t directly cause eczema, but some people feel that certain foods can trigger or worsen symptoms. You can experiment on your own by eliminating all foods that you think may be the culprits and then gradually introducing them back to see if anything triggers a reaction.
“Your personal hygiene isn’t a cause, but it can worsen your eczema. Make sure your skin is clean so that you don’t get secondary infections.”
“I’m personally very glad for better and better treatments,” says Dr. Heskel, “and I’m happy for the positive attention that eczema is getting because of them.”
Neil Heskel, M.D., received a B.A. with distinction from Swarthmore College and an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed a pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and a dermatology residency froatm Oregon Health Science University. He is board-certified in Dermatology by the American Board of Dermatology. His practice, Heskel Dermatology, is located at 865 37th Place, Vero Beach. Call 772-567-4445 for an appointment.
