Eucrisa™ (crisaborole) is a topical ointment for adults and children 3 months and older used to treat eczema (atopic dermatitis). It is a non-steroidal topical treatment that works by slowing down immune system reaction. Specifically, Eucrisa is thought to block an enzyme within skin cells known as PDE4 that regulates inflammation. The ointment also contains emollients which can help moisturize and soothe the skin.
Effectiveness
Eucrisa™ was studied in multiple trials, with more than 2,000 people. In people ages 2 and up, using Eucrisa™ twice daily (32%) achieved clear or almost clear skin vs. those using non-medicated ointment (22%) after 28 days. Some saw clear or almost clear skin in about a week.
In a trial of people 3 months and older who achieved clear or almost clear skin using Eucrisa™ twice daily for up to 2 months, some were able to maintain results through one year when applying once daily.
Possible Side-Effects
The most common side effect of Eucrisa™ is application site pain, such as burning or stinging.
Allergic reactions are possible with Eucrisa™ near the application site or at a distant site. These can be serious and may include trouble breathing, throat or chest tightness, feeling faint, swelling of the face, eyelids, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, hives, itching, and redness. If you have any of these symptoms, stop using it and get medical help right away.
Eucrisa™ is for topical use on the skin only, and should not be applied to the eyes, mouth, or vagina. At this time, it is not known how Eucrisa™ affects pregnant or nursing people and their infants.
Drawbacks of Eucrisa™
Before discounts and insurance, Eucrisa™ costs approximately $900 per 60-gram tube (an average 30-day supply). While the studies quoted above show Eucrisa™ can be effective at reducing the symptoms of eczema in some people, it doesn’t work for everyone.
Furthermore, it does not address the root cause of eczema, meaning your eczema can return if you discontinue using it.
Our Recommendation: Use Caution and Conservatism
With any chronic health condition, a conservative care approach is best. What does that mean? It means working with your healthcare professional to find the root cause of your condition and then treating it with interventions that are the least intrusive, and least damaging, but still provide the best results. Costly pharmaceutical treatments that only manage symptoms should be used only when all other treatments have failed and only after all pros and cons have been carefully considered.
Unfortunately, for many patients with skin conditions, the available choices of prescription drugs often fail the conservative care test. While the side-effects of Eucrisa™ are not extreme, it can be cost-prohibitive, even with insurance. You may likely need to use this pharmaceutical continuously, since it only manages symptoms, and does not offer a resolution of the root cause.
So, if you have tried everything to no avail and find yourself at the crossroads on whether or not to embark on a new drug therapy like Eucrisa™, we offer one other alternative to consider that is safer: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) herbal medicine.
What TCM Can Do
TCM not only reduces the symptoms of eczema for many patients, but it also treats the root cause and brings the whole health of patients back into balance so they can experience their healthy natural skin again. It has no negative side effects and provides results that last even after cessation of treatment, with no withdrawal symptoms.
Positive Side Effects with TCM?
The “side effects” of herbal medicine are actually very positive. Herbal medicine dermatology patients report that other health issues (insomnia, digestion, allergies, PMS, and more) have concurrently improved with treatment. This is because when we take into consideration every system that contributes to the skin, instead of just focusing on the surface skin symptom, we treat the whole body. Therefore, it makes sense that other body functions would improve as well.
The other positive aspect of herbal medicine treatment is that its goal is returning the skin to normal function so that you can stop all treatment and maintain your healthy natural skin without assistance. TCM is interested in condition resolution, not symptom management.
Protect Your Long-Term Health
If you’ve struggled with eczema for a long time, it can be tempting to reach for anything that promises instant relief. However, your long-term health and well-being are priceless beyond measure. You owe it to yourself to consult with more than one professional before embarking on a high-risk pharmaceutical therapy if your life is not at stake.
And if you are currently on any prescription drugs to manage your skin and are wondering if it’s the right long-term solution for you, know that it’s possible to wean off your prescription therapy safely, and substitute more natural therapies that may deliver similar or even better results.
There are lots of choices, and every day there are more! We hope that sharing the facts about the pros and cons of eczema drugs will help you make a choice that is best for you on every level.
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.