Treating eczema

Pediatrics for Parents, May, 2002 by Michael K. Meyerhoff

Actopic dermatitis (eczema) affects 10% of children. In 80%, the first symptoms occur by age five. It's usually a chronic disease with regularly occurring flare-ups. One third of children with eczema continue to have problems into adulthood.

For over 40 years, the standard treatment has been daily use of moisturizing creams and ointments combined with the short-term use of steroidal creams for flare-ups. A new product, Elidel cream (generic name pimecrolimus) offers a new way to treat eczema flare-ups. This cream works differently than steroidal creams. Technically, it's a "non-steroidal inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines."This means the drug works like a steroid cream, but doesn't have the steroids potential side-effects such as thinning of the skin, the formation of red streaks, and, when used in high doses for a long time, kidney problems.

Studies have shown the safety and effectiveness of Elidel in treating flare-ups. Until recently, the role of Elidel in preventing flare-ups rather than treating them was unclear.

A recent study of over 700 children with eczema, 2 to 17 years old, evaluated the effectiveness of Elidel in preventing flare-ups. All the children received treatment at the first signs of the appearance of eczema.

Two-thirds were given Elidel; the remaining third steroidal creams. The children who received the Elidel had significantly fewer subsequent flare-ups. Half had none for six months after treatment. The reduction was sustained for the entire year of the study.

The researchers concluded that Elidel is effective in preventing flare-ups in more than half the children in the study. Early use also reduced the number of children who needed steroid creams. They recommend the early use of Elidel in treating eczema.

Pediatrics, 7/02.