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Incyte’s “Moments of Clarity” program explores the journeys of people living with eczema.
While every person’s experience living with atopic dermatitis — the most common form of eczema — is unique, there are defining moments that often unite these journeys.
Dr. Sandra Lee, a board-certified dermatologist known more popularly as Dr. Pimple Popper, and Emily, a sonographer and mother of three, were both diagnosed with mild to moderate eczema at a young age.
“I’ve had eczema ever since I was a newborn. It was very itchy and very uncomfortable. I even had to wear mittens to block my fingernails from scratching at my skin,” Dr. Lee said.
For Emily, symptoms like itchy rashes and inflammation also first appeared when she was a child. “I remember playing outside and getting this uncontrollable itch on the arch of my foot. Nothing was making the itch go away, and I actually grabbed a stick and scratched my skin right off,” Emily said.
These early experiences were only the beginning of their search for relief from the persistent itch, redness, and dry, scaly patches brought on by eczema.
Eczema is complex and doesn’t have one singular cause. For both Dr. Lee and Emily, eczema flares are often triggered by environmental and stress-related factors.
“My eczema is triggered by new environments, stress, cold dry weather, dust, long hot showers, jacuzzis and swimming pools. One of my worst flares happened when I used a dusty space heater in my apartment during medical school. It caused me to break out in a face rash. While I knew it wasn’t life threatening, that moment was pretty scary to me. I felt like I was losing control of my skin, and I didn’t want to live like that,” Dr. Lee said.
Similarly, Emily experienced worsening symptoms due to constant handwashing required in her job and stress from personal life events. But when her children started to notice her condition, she reached a breaking point.
“I clearly remember crossing the street and reaching for my daughter’s hand, but she pulled away. I realized it was because of my eczema flare on my palm, and I was devastated,” Emily said.
Over the years, Dr. Lee and Emily explored various treatments, but for both of them, options such as steroids and injectables did not meet their needs.
After years of searching for relief, both decided to try OPZELURA® (ruxolitinib) cream 1.5%, a non-steroidal, twice-daily cream that is FDA approved for the short-term and non-continuous treatment of mild to moderate eczema in certain people 12 and older whose disease is not well-controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not recommended. The use of OPZELURA along with therapeutic biologics, other JAK inhibitors, or strong immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or cyclosporine is not recommended. It is not known if OPZELURA is safe and effective in children less than 12 years of age with atopic dermatitis.
OPZELURA is not for everyone. It can cause side effects, including serious side effects. See below for IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION including Boxed Warning for Serious Infections, Increased Risk of Death, Lymphoma and other Cancers, Major Cardiovascular Events, and Blood Clots.
“At first I was skeptical to try OPZELURA given so many previous therapies did not give me the relief I was looking for, but eventually I called my dermatologist, and we decided it was right for me,” Emily said. “I love the convenience of OPZELURA and that it’s simple to use – I just apply once in the morning and once at night. I’m able to use it when I’m having a flare and can stop once the flare clears up without having to wean off.”
“The moment I realized OPZELURA was working was around day four. The itch started to improve and others noticed as well because I wasn’t scratching. A few weeks later my skin started to clear up,” added Emily. “The best part was when my daughters and I curled up on the couch to watch a movie, and they wanted to hold my hand again.”
OPZELURA also provided Dr. Lee a new opportunity to manage her eczema and bothersome symptoms. “Every now and then I get a flare of eczema in my armpits, and I don’t love to use a steroid in that area. I was excited to try OPZELURA because it’s a non-steroidal, it’s a topical, and I can use it as monotherapy instead of in conjunction with other treatments,” Dr. Lee said. “OPZELURA also works pretty quickly, at least for me. When I have an eczema flare and use it I notice there is an improvement in my itch within a few days and a clearing in my skin within a few weeks.”
No matter where patients are in their eczema journeys, Dr. Lee emphasizes that it is never too late to talk to a healthcare provider about treatment. “If you’re curious about OPZELURA, I encourage you to talk to your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits and to see if it’s the right treatment for you. It was for me,” said Dr. Lee.
To hear more inspiring stories of people living with mild to moderate eczema and how they found relief, visit MyMomentsOfClarity.com.
All individuals have been compensated for their participation.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
OPZELURA is for use on the skin only. Do not use OPZELURA in your eyes, mouth, or vagina.
OPZELURA may cause serious side effects, including:
Serious Infections: OPZELURA contains ruxolitinib. Ruxolitinib belongs to a class of medicines called Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors. JAK inhibitors are medicines that affect your immune system. JAK inhibitors can lower the ability of your immune system to fight infections. Some people have had serious infections while taking JAK inhibitors by mouth, including tuberculosis (TB), and infections caused by bacteria, fungi, or viruses that can spread throughout the body. Some people have been hospitalized or died from these infections. Some people have had serious infections of their lungs while taking OPZELURA. Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for signs and symptoms of TB during treatment with OPZELURA.
OPZELURA should not be used in people with an active, serious infection, including localized infections. You should not start using OPZELURA if you have any kind of infection unless your healthcare provider tells you it is okay. You may be at a higher risk of developing shingles (herpes zoster) while using OPZELURA.
Increased risk of death due to any reason (all causes): Increased risk of death has happened in people 50 years of age and older who have at least 1 heart disease (cardiovascular) risk factor and are taking a medicine in the class of medicines called JAK inhibitors by mouth.
Cancer and immune system problems: OPZELURA may increase your risk of certain cancers by changing the way your immune system works. Lymphoma and other cancers have happened in people taking a medicine in the class of medicines called JAK inhibitors by mouth. People taking JAK inhibitors by mouth have a higher risk of certain cancers including lymphoma and lung cancer, especially if they are a current or past smoker. Some people have had skin cancers while using OPZELURA. Your healthcare provider will regularly check your skin during your treatment with OPZELURA. Limit the amount of time you spend in the sunlight. Wear protective clothing when you are in the sun and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Increased risk of major cardiovascular events: Increased risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death have happened in people 50 years of age and older who have at least 1 heart disease (cardiovascular) risk factor and taking a medicine in the class of medicines called JAK inhibitors by mouth, especially in current or past smokers.
Blood clots: Blood clots in the veins of your legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) or lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) can happen in some people taking OPZELURA. This may be life-threatening. Blood clots in the vein of the legs (deep vein thrombosis, DVT) and lungs (pulmonary embolism, PE) have happened more often in people who are 50 years of age and older and with at least 1 heart disease (cardiovascular) risk factor taking a medicine in the class of medicines called JAK inhibitors by mouth.
Low blood cell counts: OPZELURA may cause low platelet counts (thrombocytopenia), low red blood cell counts (anemia), and low white blood cell counts (neutropenia). If needed, your healthcare provider will do a blood test to check your blood cell counts during your treatment with OPZELURA and may stop your treatment if signs or symptoms of low blood cell counts happen.
Cholesterol increases: Cholesterol increase has happened in people when ruxolitinib is taken by mouth. Tell your healthcare provider if you have high cholesterol or triglycerides.
Before starting OPZELURA, tell your healthcare provider if you:
After starting OPZELURA:
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of OPZELURA in people treated for atopic dermatitis include: common cold (nasopharyngitis), diarrhea, bronchitis, ear infection, increase in a type of white blood cell (eosinophil) count, hives, inflamed hair pores (folliculitis), swelling of the tonsils (tonsillitis), and runny nose (rhinorrhea).
These are not all of the possible side effects of OPZELURA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Incyte Corporation at 1-855-463-3463.
INDICATION AND USAGE
OPZELURA is a prescription medicine used on the skin (topical) for the short-term and non-continuous chronic treatment of mild to moderate eczema (atopic dermatitis) in non-immunocompromised adults and children 12 years of age and older whose disease is not well controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not recommended.
The use of OPZELURA along with therapeutic biologics, other JAK inhibitors, or strong immunosuppressants such as azathioprine or cyclosporine is not recommended.
It is not known if OPZELURA is safe and effective in children less than 12 years of age with atopic dermatitis.
Please see the Full Prescribing Information, including Boxed Warning, and Medication Guide for OPZELURA.
OPZELURA is a registered trademark of Incyte.
© 2024, Incyte. MAT-OPZ-02537 09/24
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