Health Conditions

What is on the horizon?

Research in the past few decades has increased our understanding of eczema, but much is still unknown about this skin disorder. Researchers continue to investigate the role that the immune system, genetics, and environmental factors play in the development of eczema. New oral, topical, and phototherapy treatment options are continually being studied to determine their effectiveness in relieving the symptoms and frequency of eczema. As researchers gain additional knowledge about the causes of eczema, even more effective treatments will be developed for the various forms of eczema.

A new treatment product for eczema may be on the horizon. The pharmaceutical company, CutiCeuticals, Inc., recently received a United States patent for a new product called CutiCort Spray. CutiCort Spray is a 0.05% clobetasol-containing aerosol spray engineered for the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, and other inflammatory skin conditions. Although the product appears to be safe in previous clinical trials, more safety and efficacy data is needed for FDA (U.S Food and Drug Administration) approval.

The popular wrinkle treatment injection, botulinum toxin type A (also known as "botox"), has recently been shown to have some benefit in people with dyshidrotic hand eczema. The benefit is thought to be because the injection relaxes the muscles and/or inhibits the nerve impulses in the area. A very small study found that people with dyshidrotic eczema that was not able to be treated with regular therapy had good results when treated with botulinum toxin and it seemed to work really well in those that had excessive hand sweating or worsening during the summer. These results look promising but time will tell if this might become an option for treatment-resistant dyshidrotic eczema.