Ask the Experts
The first edition of the Rapid Eczema Trials ‘Ask the Expert’ Q&A webinar series took place during National Eczema Week 2024.
This page is a summary of the topics included in the Q&A and includes links to evidence and resources that relate to the different topics.
Chair:
Mrs Amanda Roberts – person with lived experience of eczema
Video recording of the webinar
Panel members:
Professor Hywel Williams – Professor of dermato-epidemiology and Consultant Dermatologist
Dr Kyle Tang – Consultant Dermatologist
Mrs Sandra Lawton – Dermatology Nurse
The session covered questions that had been submitted in advance through the Rapid Eczema Trials Citizen-Science Community. These are listed below, please watch the video to hear the responses.
Topic 1 – Dealing with troublesome eczema
Q1: What would qualify for someone to need injectable treatments for their eczema?
Q2: How bad does eczema have to be to be prescribed a “biologic”?
Q3: Do biologics have to be injected?
Eczema Therapies: website summarising the latest evidence for new treatments for eczema
TREAT: trial comparing methotrexate with cyclosporin (see video for summary of trial findings)
Publication from the TREAT Trial: Efficacy and safety of ciclosporin versus methotrexate in the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis in children and young people (TREAT): a multicentre parallel group assessor-blinded clinical trial | British Journal of Dermatology | Oxford Academic
Q4: What is the difference between a home tanning lamp and phototherapy?
Phototherapy for Atopic Eczema – Systematic review that summarise the latest evidence for phototherapy
Q5: My daughter has had eczema all her life, she is now 14. We have tried numerous steroid creams but have never got to the point of just using a moisturiser to maintain it. She remains in constant flare. Any advice would be appreciated. We are under a hospital dermatologist but nothing seems to work.
Eczema Care Online: Useful website for helpful tips and support for the self-management of eczema (developed for parents of children with eczema and for young people learning to self-manage their eczema)
Q6: Can you explain weekend therapy?
Article summarising the latest evidence on how to best use topical corticosteorids
Topic 2 – Non-pharmacological treatments
Q1: I recently had another nasty flare-up of my eczema and, out of desperation really, tried some CBD ointment (canabinoid (CBD) or cannabigerol (CBG)). I have to say that it did seem to reduce the itch sensation quite significantly. It did nothing to heal the already damaged skin quicker, but it did stop me tearing at it again. Is there much research into the effectiveness of this treatment?
Cannabinoids for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases: Systematic review of use of cannabinoids for skin conditions
Therapeutic Potential of Cannabidiol (CBD) for Skin Health and Disorders: A review of cannabidiol for skin health
Q2: Why is it so hard to find a sun cream that works for eczema skin and what should we look out for?
National Eczema Society: Information sheet on sun and eczema
Nottingham Support Group for Carers of Children with Eczema: Information leaflet for parents
If you would like to keep informed about the Rapid Eczema Trials Project and to hear about future Q&A sessions then please click the button below to join our community.