Prescription Injectables for Eczema
Here is an overview of FDA-approved prescription injectable treatments for eczema, including biologics like dupilumab.
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Overview
What are prescription injectable treatments for eczema?
Injectable treatments are medications given by injection subcutaneously, or under the skin. This can be done at a doctor’s office by a healthcare professional or at home by a patient or their caregiver. There are two different types of injectable treatments for eczema: biologics and injectable steroids. Injectables require a prescription from a doctor (as opposed to over-the-counter products you can purchase without a prescription).
Biologics for eczema
Biologic drugs, or “biologics,” are among the most targeted eczema therapies available today. Given subcutaneously, or under the skin, biologics for eczema are genetically engineered human antibody medications that are derived from living tissues or cells cultured in a laboratory.
Biologics for eczema work inside the body to block a certain type of protein chemical messenger called an interleukin (IL) from binding to their cell surface receptors, which stops or limits that part of the immune system response. A calmer immune system means lower or less severe inflammation and therefore fewer symptoms of atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema.
These medications generally do not suppress the immune system and are generally well tolerated by most patients. They are injected once every 2 weeks or every 4 weeks depending on the drug and your age.
Injectable steroids for eczema
Injectable steroids may be prescribed in cases of severe eczema symptoms. They can work to reduce inflammation and itching to help the skin begin to heal. Injectable steroids are not commonly used nowadays, and they should be avoided unless absolutely necessary due to side effects with long term use and rebound flares of eczema after it wears off.
FDA-approved prescription injectable treatments
Injectable biologics and steroids
How they work: Taken by injection under the skin; Biologic injectables work by blocking specific inflammatory proteins that contribute to symptoms of atopic dermatitis; Injectable steroids may be prescribed in cases of severe eczema symptoms.
| Category | Treatment | Brand name | Who it’s for | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biologics | Dupilumab (doo-PIL-you-mab)* | Dupixent | Ages 6 months and older; People with moderate to severe eczema whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies | $$$$ |
| Biologics | Lebrikizumab-lbkz (LEB-ruh-KIZ-oo-mab)* | Ebglyss | Ages 12 years and over; People with moderate to severe eczema whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies | $$$$ |
| Biologics | Nemolizumab-ilto* | Nemluvio | Ages 12 years and older; People with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies | $$$$ |
| Biologics | Tralokinumab-ldrm (TRAY-low-KIN-you-mab)* | Adbry | Ages 12 years and over; People with moderate to severe eczema whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical therapies | $$$$ |
| Steroids | Triamcinolone (injection) (try-am-SIN-oh-lone) | Aristocort, Aristocort Forte, Aristospan, Clinacort, Kenalog-10, Kenalog-40, Triamcot, Triam-Forte, Triesense | Systemic steroids should be used only for a short period of time to treat extremely severe eczema symptoms in children and adults. | $ |
*Generic option not available
Atopic dermatitis treatment guide
Download a full list of all current FDA-approved treatments for atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema.
Medically reviewed on April 21, 2025.
