Our researchers are studying a new medication called dupilumab to determine how it affects the immune system, water loss in the skin, and the amount of bacteria in the skin of adults with atopic dermatitis (eczema).
People with chronic atopic dermatitis have dry, scaly, itchy skin and often have repeat viral and bacterial skin infections. A bacteria known as Staph aureus, or Staph, causes many of these infections. To control their symptoms, many people with atopic dermatitis use long-term topical or oral treatments. Long-term use of these medications can have side effects. For this reason, new treatments are being researched, especially for patients whose symptoms are not controlled by existing medications. The Food and Drug Administration recently approved dupilumab for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.