Birth to Age 5 by American Academy of Pediatrics Advertisement Information and news releases furnished by the members of PR Newswire, who are responsible for their fact and content. An extensive new survey has found that parents of children with atopic dermatitis and treating physicians desire safer, more effective therapies that would be suitable for managing the chronic condition over the long term. It's therefore critical to identify opportunities for improved management. Side effects of topical corticosteroids range from excessive thinning of the skin to growth retardation, depending on how much is applied to large body areas over a long period of time. In addition, more potent topical corticosteroids, when applied over extended periods of time, can lead to development of cataracts and glaucoma.
Atopic dermatitis is a very common, inherited condition that causes itchy, inflamed skin.
The dilemma with current treatments for eczema is that, in general, the efficacy of topical corticosteroids is related to their potency. However, increased potency also increases the risk of potential side effects. Atopic dermatitis currently affects 10-20 percent of children. Approximately 80 percent of patients with atopic dermatitis are infants and small children, and up to 20 percent of these will experience lifelong disease. The survey was conducted by the National Eczema Association for Science and Education and supported by a grant from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.