Effectiveness of Topical Anti-Inflammatory Drugs for Eczema

Joseph R. Yancey, MD,

Samantha Green, MD,

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Cavazos, Texas

American Family Physician. 2025;112(1):25-26.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

This clinical content conforms to AAFP criteria for CME.

Author disclosure: No relevant financial relationships.

1.Lax SJ, Van Vogt E, Candy B, et al. Topical anti-inflammatory treatments for eczema: network meta-analysis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2024(8):CD015064.
2.Eichenfield LF, Tom WL, Chamlin SL, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis: section 1. Diagnosis and assessment of atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(2):338-351.
3.Ng AE, Boersma P. Diagnosed allergic conditions in adults: United States, 2021. NCHS Data Brief. 2023(460):1-8.
4.Stacey SK, McEleney M. Topical corticosteroids: choice and application. Am Fam Physician. 2021;103(6):337-343.
5.Chu DK, Chu AWL, Rayner DG, et al. Topical treatments for atopic dermatitis (eczema): systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023;152(6):1493-1519.
6.Chu DK, Schneider L, Asiniwasis RN, et al. Atopic dermatitis (eczema) guidelines: 2023 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology/American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters: GRADE- and Institute of Medicine–based recommendations. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2024;132(3):274-312.
7.Sidbury R, Alikhan A, Bercovitch L, et al. Guidelines of care for the management of atopic dermatitis in adults with topical therapies. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2023;89(1):e1-e20.
8.GoodRx. Clobetasol, tacrolimus, and ruxolitinib. https://www.goodrx.com. Accessed November 19, 2024.

These are summaries of reviews from the Cochrane Library.

This series is coordinated by Corey D. Fogleman, MD, assistant medical editor.

A collection of Cochrane for Clinicians published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/cochrane.

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