Eczema Breakthroughs

Dupixent has transformed the lives of people with moderate to severe eczema, but will patients need to use it indefinitely? In this episode we explore tapering Dupixent (also known as dupilumab) with two researchers from University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands that have created a patient-led roadmap for successful tapering. They are: Pediatric Dermatologist  Dr. Marlies de Graaf...

Itch. It’s the hallmark symptom of eczema and the most troublesome. In this podcast we discuss why the eczema itch is so hard to treat and explore effective treatment options. We have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Shawn Kwatra, international leader in chronic itch research and Director of John Hopkins Itch Centre in Baltimore, and Dr. Shivani Patel, a practicing pediatric derma...

What do microplastics, dishwasher rinse-aid, air pollution and processed foods have to do with eczema? Join us as we explore why allergic diseases were rare for our grandparents but now affect two billion people worldwide.   Explaining the link is our guest, Professor Cezmi Akdis. He is a global leader in immunology, specializing in allergic diseases, editor-in-chief of Allergy , and a Profes...

Have you ever wondered if there is anything you can do during pregnancy to lower the chance of your baby developing eczema? Join our discussion with Dr. Suzanne Barshow from Stanford University who is overseeing the SUNBEAM study which investigates which factors lead to the development of allergic diseases, and Kortney Kwong Hing, co-host of The Itch Podcast and eczema sufferer who would like...

In our very first “Big Ideas” competition, we asked those who live with eczema for big ideas that could lead to better treatments or a cure. Learn about three brilliant ideas from the winners to help kids with eczema in the future. Our guests are Armando de la Libertad, Nic Novac and Angela Tiru, parents and patients who used their experiences and insights to come up with innovative research ideas...

Could allergy drops (or shots) be the answer to reducing eczema flares? Recent research suggests that immunotherapy can improve eczema symptoms, and it is safe for kids, easy to use and inexpensive. We discuss how the treatment works and it’s potential to improve lives, especially for kids who can’t access expensive treatment programs. Our guests are Dr. Derek Chu, professor of medicine at McMaste...

Imagine if doctors could use a non-invasive test on newborns to predict their risk of developing eczema?   Now it might be possible.  What’s more, new research suggests there is something you can do for high risk babies. Join us as we learn about an innovative test for eczema and what you might do with this information.   Our guest speakers are Dr. Anne-Sofie Halling who is completi...

Until recently, the mental health impacts of eczema were hidden and under recognized. However, there's been a spate of new research that shows an association between eczema and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. And those impacts extend to parents and caregivers as well.   Join the discussion with Dr. Mohammad Jafferany, Professor of Psychodermatology Psychiatry and Behavio...

Our skin protects us from our environment, and global warming is changing that environment. In turn, new research suggests this changing environment can alter our skin. In this episode we explore the impact climate change has on children with eczema and allergies.  Our guests are: Dr. Mary Prunicki, Director of Air Pollution and Health Research at the Sean N Parker Centre for Allergy and Asth...

Topical corticosteroids (TCS) use is controversial in our community and generates a lot of concern among caregivers. Yet, it is the mainstay of eczema treatment for children and nearly every child who sees a doctor for eczema is likely using topical steroids. TCS do usually help with eczema symptoms, but it can be hard to wean off them and then there are side effects. In the fi...

Eczema and food allergy are closely intertwined, particularly when it comes to questions of prevention. We know that eczema tends to be the first condition to emerge in the atopic march and there is growing evidence that controlling eczema may actually prevent some of these downstream conditions. Likewise, if we can learn how to prevent eczema so that it never manifested in the first place, we may...

Are certain types of moisturizers better than others for eczema? What is the best way to apply it? In this episode we ask our guest speakers, both researchers who have studied this topic, to weigh in: Dr. Tina Sindher, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics from the Allergy and Clinical Immunology group at Stanford University and Dr. Ian Myles head of the Epithelial Therapeutics Unit at the Na...

Globally, patients and caregivers are often left to figure out the daunting task of getting eczema under control by medical systems that provide limited direction. In a first-of-its kind  collaboration  between patient organizations from eight countries coordinated by Global Parents for Eczema Research, we reveal the results of a 3,200 response survey which show how eczema patients are f...

In the last few months, a record FOUR new treatments have been approved for eczema in the United States, with other countries considering approval as well. At long last, kids with moderate-to-severe eczema will soon have new, effective options. What are these new treatments, their side effects and what do parents need to know about safety? Tune in as we discuss these emerging treatments with our e...

Studies by Global Parents for Eczema Research have shed light on the many mental health, quality of life, and life course impacts experienced by parents who care for children with moderate to severe eczema. The impacts are often hidden from view and take an enormous toll on caregivers who have the daunting challenge of controlling and managing eczema at all hours of the day and night, of...

At the beginning of the pandemic, the prevailing theory was that people with eczema would be at higher risk for COVID-19 infection and impacts because so many are using steroid treatments and also suffer from asthma, which many guessed would make respiratory infections worse. But, in a rare bit of good news, the exact opposite may be true! Tune in to learn how the immune system abnormalities assoc...

Many parents receive conflicting advice about how and how often to bathe a child with eczema, which leads to confusion around this common ritual. On the one hand, baths can quell itch, and hydrate the skin prior to moisturization; on the other, over-bathing may actually dry out the skin and compromise the skin barrier. In this episode, we delve into the research on bathing and eczema with special...

When children are young, parents have to manage their eczema care, and it’s a role that usually lasts a decade or more. But when children reach adolescence, parents must hand over the reins and learn to let go. In this episode we explore some pitfalls with this sometimes-tumultuous period as well as tips and best practices for navigating it with patience and skill. We examine the issues from the p...

In this episode we explore the promise of an emerging therapy for inflammatory conditions like eczema: transplanting the fecal matter of a healthy person into the gut of a person with eczema. It sounds far-fetched (and even a little off-putting!) but this therapy has actually been around for 2000 years and was first used in ancient China to treat infections. More recently, FMT has been shown to cu...

Parents of children with eczema often end up on a long journey to determine what triggers their child’s flares, and food is often suspected to be a culprit. But restricting food too early can confuse the immune system and create problems later on. In this episode, co-hosted with Susan Weissman of the  Food Allergy Fund (FAF)  and produced as part of the FAF Annual Summit, we ask our pane...

New research suggests a link between eczema and learning disabilities in children. But how can we tease out the effect of itch, sleep, treatment and other factors to know if the learning disability is real? Join us for this enlightening discussion with Dr. Joy Wan, dermatologist and researcher with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and lead author on a recently published study that looked at thi...

In this episode we talk about parents’ concerns with topical steroids and what we do and don’t know about the risks and benefits of using this mainstay of treatment. We also explore NEW topical treatments for eczema that may be safer to use long term. Our guest is Dr. Elaine Siegfried, Director of the Division of Pediatric Dermatology At Saint Louis University and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospi...

In this episode we explore the bi-directional relationship between food allergies and eczema with two leading pediatric allergists.  Our guests are Dr. Anne Marie Singh, an allergy and immunology specialist with a focus in pediatrics with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Dr. Peck Ong, Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Un...

How close are we to targeted treatments designed to each person with eczema? As parents, we often hear from people about a miracle approach that “cured” their or their child’s eczema, only to find that this same approach doesn’t work for us. We are continually reminded of the many different ways that eczema can appear and feel, and how people respond differently to different treatments. Right now,...

In this episode six parents of children with eczema from around the world share common experiences, challenges and silver linings from their eczema journeys, and dispel myths and misperceptions about the condition. Join us for this special edition of Eczema Breakthroughs recorded for World Atopic Eczema Day (#atopiceczemaday), which takes place annually on September 14th. Episode 7 is co-hosted wi...