Learn more about the full survey findings at Arcutis.com
For the ~31 million Americans living with eczema, managing the condition often means more than just treating what’s visible on the skin. A new nationwide survey sheds light on how adults and parents of children with chronic inflammatory skin diseases—including atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema—feel about current treatment approaches, particularly the reliance on topical steroids and the emotional weight of recurring flares.
The survey, Skin Insights: Steroid Perceptions in Chronic Inflammatory Skin Diseases, which was led by Arcutis Biotherapeutics in collaboration with the National Eczema Association, included 1,000 adults and 500 parents of children living with eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, and plaque psoriasis who have been prescribed a topical steroid for their condition at one point in their lives.
A reactive approach dominates eczema care
The survey results suggest that many treatment plans focus on reacting to flares or uncontrolled disease rather than proactively managing eczema as the chronic condition it is.
Many adults and children experienced frequent periods of uncontrolled symptoms:
- 68% of adults (n=506 adults with eczema) and 74% of children (n=232 parents of children with eczema) experienced uncontrolled disease at least once a month, and for some, symptoms occurred as often as daily.
- About eight in 10 adults (79%) and parents (81%) said their or their child’s treatment plan is centered on “taming a flare” instead of long-term solutions.
The emotional and social burden of uncontrolled eczema
When eczema is not well controlled, its impact often extends beyond physical symptoms. According to the survey, adults and children with eczema commonly experienced discomfort throughout the day, frustration, embarrassment or self-consciousness, and anxiety.
For children with eczema, the impact during periods when their skin was uncontrolled underscores how the condition can affect daily life based on these survey responses:
- More than half (53%) have avoided school
- Nearly half (47%) have avoided meeting up with a friend
- A little more than a third (38%) have avoided sports practice or a game
For both adults and children with eczema surveyed, worry remains even when their eczema appears under control:
- More than half of adults (57%) and children (59%) feel self-conscious about scarring or scratches from the last time their eczema was uncontrolled
- 54% of adults and 46% of children experience anxiety about when their eczema will become uncontrolled again
- Nearly a third of adults (31%) and over a quarter of children (28%) avoid making plans or socializing
Adults and parents surveyed had concerns about topical steroids
Topical steroids remain the most common topical prescription for eczema treatment. The survey reveals concern about their use. 90% of parents and 87% of adults are concerned about short- or long-term side effects, with the top concerns being skin thinning, changes in skin color (hypopigmentation), and acne.
Despite these worries, more than 4 in 10 adults (44%) and parents (42%) said they feel hesitant to raise concerns with their/their child’s healthcare provider about long-term steroid use—highlighting a potential communication gap.
A need for long-term eczema management strategies
Only one in five adults (18%) and parents (20%) reported feeling fully confident that their current treatment plan can keep their symptoms under control long term.
Relying on episodic, steroid based care is increasingly recognized as insufficient for long-term treatment of individuals living with a chronic condition like eczema. Across the dermatology community, there is growing alignment around the risks of long term steroid use.
“These findings highlight the hidden burden of eczema—particularly the constant worry and emotional strain that persists even between flares,” said Wendy Smith Begolka, MBS, chief program and mission officer, National Eczema Association. “They reinforce the need for treatment plans that focus on proactive, long-term disease management rather than episodic care.”
These survey findings reveal a deeper reality that adults and parents are working hard to manage persistent eczema and start an important conversation about how eczema should be treated for the long-term.
Moving the conversation forward
If you or your child are living with eczema and feel stuck in a cycle of flares, consider speaking with a healthcare provider about long-term management strategies. For more information on how Arcutis is advancing meaningful innovation for people with chronic inflammatory skin diseases, including eczema, visit Arcutis.com.
To learn more about the full survey findings, please visit Arcutis.com.
About the Survey
The online survey was conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of Arcutis Biotherapeutics, and in collaboration with the National Eczema Association (NEA) and the National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF), among:
- 1,000 U.S. adults (18+) diagnosed with eczema (atopic dermatitis), seborrheic dermatitis or plaque psoriasis who have been prescribed a topical steroid at one point in their lives.
- 500 parents of children diagnosed with eczema (atopic dermatitis) ages 6+, seborrheic dermatitis ages 9+, or plaque psoriasis ages 6+, and whose children have been prescribed a topical steroid at one point in their lives. In the survey, parents responded on behalf of their children.
The survey was conducted in August and September 2025.
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