Eczema and Sunflowers?

Sunflowers May be Key in Skin Disorders

Many are familiar with the allergy march- the sequence of symptoms, often beginning in infancy, that start with eczema and move into asthma and allergies. For a detailed explanation of  the progression of the allergy march, check out Dr. Eugene Weinberg's article in the February 2010 CME Journal.

Eczema can severely affect quality of life with its itchy rashes so I was pleased to come across research being done at Queensland University of Technology in Australia. PhD student Simon de Veer and his colleagues are looking at treating eczema with peptides found in sunflowers. By engineering these peptides, researchers are designing inhibitors, which Mr. de Veer claims, are the missing piece of the puzzle for sufferers of skin conditions.

The research will continue to be evaluated over an eight month period. Researchers are hopeful that this study will provide new treatments for sufferers of skin disease. Stay tuned!

Eczema Drugs Linked to Cancer Risk

There is a scary warning about two common drugs used for eczema. The FDA is recommending warning labels for the skin creams Elidel® and Protpic®. They may cause cancer.

I suspect that many of you were told, as we were, that these two creams were the best treatment on the market for our children's eczema, since they were non-steroid based. We switched to these creams when we noticed some loss of pigment on some areas of the leg. "That's from the steroid cream you're using to treat the eczema," our allergist said. Two new (at the time) creams were recommended to us.

Now we find out that these creams have caused cancer in animals involved in a study. Human study results will be unknown for 10 years.

So we wait?

If you are still using either cream, I suggest speaking to your allergist or dermatologist about risks and benefits. They are not being pulled off the market and doctors seem to believe they have a place in eczema treatment.

They are not, though, the "miracle drug" I was led to believe they were...