EAST HANOVER, NJ (Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation PR/ www.pharma.novartis.com) - Chronic, recurring flares of itchy, red, irritated skin are the hallmark of atopic dermatitis, commonly referred to as eczema, a disease that affects 35 million Americans.
Approximately nine out of 10 people who have eczema see symptoms before the age of five, and many sufferers continue to endure the physical symptoms for decades thereafter. The itch, inflammation and frustration of eczema can have a profound impact on many patients' lives at any age. In fact, up to 80 percent of children with eczema will go on to develop hay fever or asthma, or both of these diseases, as they age.
Today in support of National Eczema Awareness Month (October), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation launched Treat Eczema Now, a nationwide public education initiative designed to help patients and physicians overcome barriers to effective long-term control of eczema.
Grammy Award-winning country music singer LeAnn Rimes, who was diagnosed with eczema when she was only two years old, is leading the charge as the spokesperson for this educational initiative, speaking out for the first time about her experience with eczema.
"Eczema has had a profound impact on me throughout my childhood and teen years, and I've never felt comfortable discussing my condition before. But my physician helped me with a different treatment strategy and now I know how to control my eczema," says Rimes. "I'm sharing my experiences through Treat Eczema Now to encourage other patients to work with their doctor to find an effective way to manage their disease."
According to The Eczema Survival Guide, a comprehensive, new report developed by the National Eczema Association for Science and Education (NEASE) in conjunction with Novartis Pharmaceuticals, there is a disconnect between physicians and patients when it comes to the successful management of this disease. The majority of physicians (91 percent) believe prescription medications are effective in managing eczema, yet 64 percent of eczema patients say they are dissatisfied with their prescription medication. While there is no cure for eczema, there are ways to effectively control symptoms long-term - something patients may not understand clearly.
"Patients are sometimes confused about their eczema and/or don't have a clear understanding of how to properly use their prescribed medication, so they give up out of frustration or embarrassment, resigning to live with the frustrating effects of the condition," said Zoe Draelos, MD, clinical associate professor of dermatology, Wake Forest University. "If used as directed by a physician, prescription eczema treatments can provide effective symptom relief, lessening the intensity and frequency of flare-ups."
Through the Treat Eczema Now initiative, Novartis hopes to help bridge the patient/physician communication gap around effective disease management, with educational tools including The Eczema Survival Guide and a new on-line patient resource called https://www.TreatEczemaNow.com. Eczema patients and caregivers can also receive information about the disease and the Treat Eczema Now campaign by calling toll-free at 1-877-MY-ECZEMA.
LeAnn Rimes' Experience with Eczema
LeAnn suffers from mild to moderate eczema. Like many eczema patients, LeAnn was forced to avoid situations that might cause a flare or, even worse for her, teasing from her peers. She would often stay home from the beach or the pool on hot afternoons just to avoid wearing a bathing suit and exposing a red, itchy, eczema flare. Sometimes, she even wore two pairs of pantyhose while doing a performance, to disguise the eczema on her legs.
"I've tried many treatments over the years, from light box therapy to steroid creams, but I was experiencing some side effects, and my doctor and I were concerned about long-term control of my condition," explains Rimes.
At one point in her life, LeAnn visited her doctor weekly in hopes of identifying an appropriate treatment strategy. LeAnn currently manages her eczema with steroid-free Elidel, which her doctor prescribed for use at the first signs of an eczema flare (tingling sensation and/or redness) to manage her disease and control flares.
