New Eczema Atopic Dermatitis Treatment from a Memphis Dermatologist

George Woodbury
Aug 18
4 min read

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. (08/18/2025)

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema is a big concern of teens worldwide since it tends to start in childhood — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury Jr. counsels an Eczema patient about updates in treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

One of the most common skin conditions world-wide is what Dermatologists call Atopic Dermatitis, or Eczema. Often also called Fall Itch or Winter Itch, it can occur in all seasons. Let’ take a look at what’s new in Eczema Treatment, my perspective being that of a Memphis Dermatologist for the last 32 years.

Man with typical Nummular Dermatitis or Nummular Eczema on his arms — Man suffering from the itching of Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema on his arms

So just what is eczema, or atopic dermatitis? It’s an itchy, dry skin condition that tends to develop in childhood, but it can also surface in adulthood. It tends to favor the arms, legs, neck, and face, but it can occur anywhere. The rash and itching of Eczema can certainly make people miserable, the good news being that increasingly effective Eczema Treatment is now available.

Flares of Eczema can sometimes be triggered by a skin allergy so skin allergy testing is often helpful to look for triggers — Young woman with itchy Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis on her face and neck

The first step with a rash or skin eruption is to consider seeing a Board-certified Dermatologist.

As a practicing Memphis Dermatologist for over 30 years, many times I’ll talk with patients about doing a skin test called a skin biopsy or excision – particularly if the condition could in reality be Contact Dermatitis. Sometimes we also consider what’s called Allergy Testing or Allergy Patch Testing, checking for chemicals that one could be allergic to – which could cause flares of itching or rash. Allergy Patch Testing involves evaluation for skin reactions to common preservatives, fragrances, components of latex, and metals. Identifying chemical triggers can lead to effective ways of avoiding these trigger factors. For more, check out a short Youtube video on Allergy Testing sponsored by my Memphis Dermatology practice:

Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury discussing Skin Allergy Testing with an Ezema patient as an option to look for triggers of Contact Dermatitis — Cordova Dermatologist counseling a teen about Allergy Patch Testing, a type of Skin Allergy Testing

Special dry or itchy conditions similar to Eczema include Dyshidrotic Dermatitis, a type of Hand Eczema often triggered by dryness and often requiring systemic or oral steroids to achieve clearance; Perioral Dermatitis, a type of overlap of Acne and Eczema that often requires careful treatment with a combination of less greasy topical steroid creams with oral Retinoid cream or gel; Nummular Eczema, a condition with coin-shaped often itchy lesions on the legs and arms that’s probably genetic – meaning it runs in certain families; and Hand Eczema, often triggered by frequent washing and contact with chemicals that irritated the skin due to dryness. Seborrheic dermatitis is a type of Eczema that develops on the face, scalp, or chest, often triggered by an overgrowth of a normal or commensal skin yeast called Pityrosporon.

Common culprits behind Hand Dermatitis include latex, nickel, fragrances, and certain preservatives and emulsifiers — Patient with Dyshidrotic Dermatitis or Hand Eczema applying steroid cream

What counts as Eczema Cream, or Best Eczema Cream? Many Board-certified Dermatologists like myself design Eczema Treatment to include prescription topical steroid creams and ointments, often giving quick relief from itching and burning. (The word “topical” means a medicine that’s applied “on top of” the skin.) Other options include steroid-free products called Protopic® Ointment (tacrolimus), Elidel® Cream (pimecrolimus), and a promising agent called Eucrisa® Ointment (crisaborole).

Eczema or Atopic Dermatitis affects children, teens, and adults — Cordova Dermatologist discusses new Eczema treatment with a teenager

For severe cases of Eczema, Dermatologists sometimes consider a short course of oral steroid tablets, called prednisone, or a steroid shot. These can give patients much more prompt relief from their symptoms or rash. For more: https://www.Rheumderm.com/eczema-atopic-dermatitis.

Couple with Atopic Dermatitis on their faces — Couple with Atopic Dermatitis applying steroid cream to their faces

Promising new therapies for eczema include Dupixent® or dupilumab monoclonal antibody injections; and two new oral tablets – what are called non-steroidal JAK-1 inhibitors – Upadacitnib (Rinvoq®) and Abrocitinib (Cibinqo®). We generally monitor these treatments with bloodwork, tb testing, and sometimes Chest X-rays.

Couple with Eczema on their chests — Couple applying steroid cream to their chests

Ebglyss™ (lebrikizumab) is a new promising injectable biologic therapy for adults and children 12 years of age or older who have Atopic Dermatitis. Opzelura™ (ruxolitinib) is a JK inhibitor available as a steroid-free topicl cream for Atopic Dermatitis. Zoryve® (roflumilast) is a promising new topical foam, an inhibitor of an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase 4, used for Atopic Dermatitis in adults and for Seborrheic Dermatitis in children down to age 9.

Big River Silk Skincare is dedicated to developing and manufacturing skincare with few additives and prefumes making it Hypoallergenic Skincare — Cordova Dermatologist Dr. George Woodury Jr. with Big River Silk Skincare staff

It’s quite important to try to correct the environmental problems that promote flares of eczema: use of overly drying soaps, or failure to use skin lubricants or moisturizers. Dermatologists often recommend that patients with under Eczema Treatment stay with fragrance-free cleansers or soaps, such as Vanicream Gentle Facial Cleanser, and AmberSoy™ Soap Gel, both of which are available through Big River Silk Skincare, a company of which I’m the President (www.Bigriversilkskincare.com).

HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion makes a Best Eczema Cream due to its Refined Shea Butter

Moisturizers are also known to be helpful for people prone to Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema. Options include Lubriderm®, Moisturel®, Aveeno®, and the remarkable steroid-free topical HypoShea™ Moisturizer Lotion, a product of Big River Silk Skincare Inc., for which I serve as the President (1-901-753-0168; https://www.Bigriversilkskincare.com). HypoShea Moisturizer Lotion is often helpful because it’s fragrance-free, with no dyes, no formaldehyde and no parabens, being derived from Refined Shea Butter, acting as Rejuvenation Cream because of its nongreasy blend or emulsion with some of the purest natural water in the United States, from the Memphis Sands.

AmberSoy Soap Gel makes a Best Face Soap for people with combination skin or oily skin — AmberSoy Soap Gel can be used as an Acne Mask due to its soft glycerine composition

So if you have an undiagnosed rash that’s been stubborn, or ongoing itchy or breakouts, consider seeing a Board-certified Dermatologist. My own Memphis Dermatology practice is with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, in Cordova, TN, or you can find a Dermatologist closer to you, or a “Best Dermatologist Near Me,” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology website, AAD.org, then plugging your zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab. Never itch in silence!