New Eczema Atopic Dermatitis Treatment from a Memphis Dermatologist

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (10/06/2024)

Eczema can also be called Atopic Dermatitis — Memphis Dermatoloist Dr. George Woodbury with an Eczema patient

We’re currently moving into the Fall, a time of year well-known to Dermatologists as “Eczema Season.” Let’s take a look at Eczema – also called “Atopic Dermatitis” – a sensitive skin condition that often runs in families along with asthma, hay fever, and food allergies. It’s felt to be genetic, rather than due to a food allergy to milk or eggs. Episodes of eczema –rashes or itching or burning -tend to start when the skin gets dry, often related to a new cleanser or laundry detergent. Flares of itching can be triggered by skin allergies, so Allergy Patch Testing, available at my Memphis Dermatology practice in Cordova, TN, since 2004, is a helpful way to uncover triggers, like preservatives, fragrance, metals, or components of latex.

Eczema treatment can involve steroids or steroid-free medicines — Eczema presents with an itchy eruption on the body or even the face

In 2024, attacks of Eczema are unfortunately becoming more and more common, possibly because of the need for frequent skin washing and scrubbing, related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of Americans affected is increasing, particularly among African-Americans. Unmanaged Eczema can easily turn into a family crisis: parents deprived of sleep from kids itching in the night can’t function well during the day!

Eczema can go along with food allergies, and asthma — Eczema can cause flares of itching and rash on the face

The good news is that Dermatologists like myself have more and more effective Eczema evaluation tools and Eczema treatment options.

So let’s take a look at these, my perspective being that of a Memphis Dermatologist since 1993, with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (1-901-753-0168; wwwl.Rheumderm.com).

Dyshidrotic Dermatitis treatment often involves courses of oral steroids — Dyshidrotic Dermatitis or Hand Eczema is a rash that presents on the fings

What type of lab testing is helpful in Eczema?

Traditionally, Dermatologists have evaluated eczema by inspecting the skin in the office. We sometimes also do a skin biopsy, removing a small area of skin under local anesthetic to be checked by a Dermatopathologist, or specialist in skin cells. Sometimes we order skin Allergy Patch Testing, to check for allergy or sensitivity to one or more preservatives, fragrances, metals, or components of latex. This type of skin allergy testing can be done through what’s called the “True Test®, or else by a type of Expanded Allergy Testing, called the “Dormer Test,® now available in my Memphis Dermatology practice in Cordova, TN (www.Rheumderm.com). Finding the trigger chemical helps patients to avoid it.

Eczema is also called Atopic Dermatitis — Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with an Eczema patient

What’s New in Eczema treatment or Atopic Dermatitis treatment?

Traditionally, Dermatologists have used what are called topical (meaning “on top of the skin”) prescription steroid creams and ointments, such as Triamcinolone and Clobetasol. Now we also have several effective steroid-free products: tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, as well as crisaborole ointment (Eucrisa®). Sometimes for flares of eczema we use Medrol® shots (steroid shots, sometimes called allergy shots).

Steroid ointments tend to reduce Atopic Dermatitis symptoms like itching — Eczema treatment can involve steroid creams and ointments

In 2024, Dermatologists can also treat Eczema patients with an oral steroid medication – prednisone – or with oral azathioprine – or with an injectable biologic medicine - Dupixent® - which blocks inflammatory chemicals called Interleukins 4 and 13. We also have injectable biologics Adbry® (tralokinumab) and Ebglyss® (lebrikizumab) – which work more specifically on Interleukin 13.

Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis patients tend to benefit from moistuirzers — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with an Eczema patient

Dermatologists can also offer two promising new oral tablets – Rinvoq® (Upadcitinib) and Cibinqo® (Rinvoq) – steroid-free JAK inhibitors - for patients with Eczema. We also have a new promising steroid-free cream and foam – Zoryve® (Roflumilast®) – now approved for patients with Atopic Dermatitis down to the age of 6 – which has an active steroid-free ingredient called a Phosphodiesterase inhibitor or PDE4 – now approved for Atopic Dermatitis, Psoriasis, and Seborrheic dermatitis.

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury is President of Big River Silk Skincare — Big River Silk Skincare staff

In 2016, I because President of Big River Silk™ Skincare Inc. , incorporating 25 years of my own Memphis Dermatology practice into the development, manufacture, and distribution of a gentle Refined Shea Butter moisturizer – now available in three varieties - HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion, HypoShea Moisturizer Cream, and HypoShea Moisturizer Oil ($14.95 for 1 oz/$22.95 for 2 oz/$74.95 for 8 oz: free USPS shipping for orders over $75.00/otherwise $7.50 for shipping and handling). HypoShea is a beautiful line because it uses an organic moisturizer from an African tree – called Shea Butter – blended with some of the purest natural water in the United States – from the Memphis Sands aquifer. Check us out at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com.

GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion is an Antiwrinkle Cream

Big River Silk™ Skincare also manufactures two anti-wrinkle creams - GlycoShea™ Facial&Neck Lotion and GlycoShea™ Hand&Body Lotion – with Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid – helpful for Keratosis pilaris and dry rough skin.

GlycoShea's active ingredient is Alpha Hydroxy Acid Glycolic Acid — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with GlycoShea Hand&Body Lotion

So if you or a family member is suffering from itching, burning or recurrent rashes, you could be suffering from Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis. My own practice for the last 29 years has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology, at 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova TN 38018 (www.Rheumderm.com: 1-901-753-0168).

Dermatologists are medical doctors (MDs) of the skin, the hair, and the nails — Memphis Dermatologist examing skin rash

Or you could find a “Best Dermatologist Near Me” or “Best Dermatologists Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab. Never itch in silence!