FDA Approves New Eczema Treatment, Offering Some Relief for Teens

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The FDA has approved a new treatment for eczema. 8 News Now spoke with a teenager who has been battling the condition for a decade and finally found relief.

Scott Hedgpeth is an active 17-year-old high school student. He is one of 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, who suffer from atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema.

It is the second most common inflammatory skin disease. It causes itchy, blistered skin that may be scaly or even blistered.

Hedpeth was diagnosed at the age of seven and said his condition worsened significantly over time. The chronic condition can impact a person's quality of life.

“Physical heat and the sweating that follows can both increase itching, which in turn increases scratching. It’s a vicious cycle that makes the condition worse,” says board-certified dermatologist Adam Friedman, MD, FAAD.

Hedgpeth struggled for years with topical creams and steroids, and it wasn't until his mother enrolled him in a clinical trial that he had the chance to try a new, non-steroid cream called Zyrove.

The most recent FDA approval is for Zyrove or roflumilast 1.5% cream. It is a once-daily, steroid-free topical option for treating people with mild to moderate acne. It is approved for people ages 6 and older.

“It was great because I tried all these products, and they didn’t work. I thought I’d try this cream, and it ended up working for me. I got my confidence back,” Hedgpeth said.

Dermatologists say that ongoing management strategies for patients with chronic conditions are essential. Less is more when it comes to using soaps. Use moisturizers that are alcohol-free, fragrance-free, dye-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free.

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