Two studies involving hundreds of clinical trials reveal the best treatments for eczema, based on their efficacy, safety and impact on quality of life. The verdict is in!
Also known as « atopic dermatitis« , eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that causes severe redness, skin inflammation and persistent itching.
Highly disabling in everyday life, it affects at least one in three French people at some point in their lives.
At present, it is treated in two different ways: either locally with topical applications (creams, ointments) or orally with systemic medications (immunosuppressants, monoclonal antibodies).
What’s the best treatment for eczema?
Researchers at McMaster University in Canada have examined these treatments with a fine-tooth comb.
The aim? Identify the best of them according to well-defined criteria: efficacy, impact on sleep, itch intensity, safety, quality of life and severity of side effects.
Published on September 6, 2023 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, an initial study of 43,123 participants identified the best topical treatments among the 68 analyzed.
The result? Pimecrolimus, tacrolimus and moderate-strength corticosteroids top the list, judged to be far more effective than topical antibiotics, whether taken alone or in combination with other drugs.
A series of criteria evaluated by a team of researchers
The second study, published on September 5, 2023 in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, involved 28,686 subjects.
She compared 75 different treatments for moderate to severe forms of the disease.
According to this research, while upadactinib – a high-dose immunosuppressant that reduces inflammation by acting on immune system activity – appears to be the most effective, it is accompanied by numerous side effects.
Although less effective, three monoclonal antibodies appear to be safer. These are dupilumab, lebrikizumab and tralokinumab.