How to Tell the Difference Between Nummular Eczema and Ringworm
It’s often difficult to distinguish between nummular eczema and ringworm, so it’s always best to be evaluated by a dermatologist, say experts.
Published On: Jan 2, 2018
Last Updated On: Jul 15, 2021
A promising, new oral treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) was the biggest eczema news coming out of the 26th European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress. The annual event took place in September 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Baricitinib was found to “significantly improve” the signs and symptoms of AD compared with the placebo arm treated with a topical corticosteroid alone, according to Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, who presented results from the phase 2 clinical trials to leading medical experts from around the world.
However, “I think this potentially provides a new oral treatment that can be used in moderate to severe patients with or without topical steroids,” Guttman-Yassky told a Dermatology Times reporter covering the event.
Baricitinib is a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor. JAK inhibitors are a type of medication that stop the activity of one or more of the Janus kinase family of enzymes. In the case of baricitinib, it impedes the enzymes JAK 1 and JAK 2.
Cytokines are small cell proteins that play role in cell growth and immune response. They function by binding to and activating cytokine receptors. These cytokine receptors rely on JAK enzymes to send signals to the immune system. JAK inhibitors like baricitinib block cytokine signaling that leads to an inflammatory response in the immune system.
JAK inhibitors have been effective at treating cancers and inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, but only recently have they been considered for the treatment of skin conditions such as AD. For maximum effectiveness, more dermatologists are prescribing the use of systemic treatments, such as JAK inhibitors, in conjunction with topical corticosteroids for the treatment of moderate to severe AD.
All 124 patients in the 16-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled study were treated with a mid-potency topical corticosteroid starting four weeks before randomization. The group that took 4 milligrams of baricitinib once daily saw significantly better results within two weeks compared with the group treated with the topical corticosteroid alone.
The most common side effects in the group treated with baricitinib were headaches, common colds and upper respiratory tract infections. “Overall, the drug was very well tolerated,” said Guttman-Yassky, adding that a phase 3 clinical trial for baricitinib is now in the planning stages.
It’s often difficult to distinguish between nummular eczema and ringworm, so it’s always best to be evaluated by a dermatologist, say experts.
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