Part of the series: Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations Podcast
This podcast was made in partnership with Allergy & Asthma Network.
We thank Arcutis for supporting this episode. While they support the show, all opinions are our own, and sponsorship doesn’t influence our content or editorial decisions. Any mention of brands is for informational purposes and not an endorsement.
Many parents worry about using eczema creams on young kids for a long time. In this episode of The Itch Review, we look at a study of roflumilast cream.
Kortney and Dr. Payel Gupta are joined by allergist Dr. Michael Blaiss to review "Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Once-Daily and Proactive Twice-Weekly Roflumilast Cream 0.05% for Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis in Children Aged 2-5 Years From a 52-Week, Phase 3 Trial (INTEGUMENT-OLE)," published in Paediatric Dermatology, March 2026.
The FDA approved roflumilast cream 0.05% (Zoryve) for mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in kids ages 2 to 5 in October 2025.
What we cover in this episode about eczema treatment for young kids
The study design and what OLE means.
Why parents stop eczema creams early. Warnings on eczema creams can scare families. Many stop treatment too soon, even when their doctor says to keep going.
How roflumilast works. Dr. Blaiss explains it as easing off the gas pedal for inflammation. Young kids use a lower strength because their skin soaks up more.
Endpoints: Safety over a year. Only 2.5% of kids had side effects linked to the cream. Stinging or burning happened in less than 1% of kids.
Secondary end point: How well did roflumilast work. Kids whose skin cleared moved to twice a week. Half of them stayed clear for close to 8 months or longer.
About our guest
Dr. Michael Blaiss is an allergist and clinical professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. He is a past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. He has published more than 175 scientific articles. He is also our co-host for The Itch Review.
More resources
Read the study: INTEGUMENT-OLE in Pediatric Dermatology
What is Type 2 Inflammation
More episodes about eczema
Timestamps
01:32 What is eczema (atopic dermatitis)
03:22 Problems with current eczema treatments
05:42 The skin barrier and food allergies
07:40 What is proactive eczema treatment
09:27 How roflumilast works
11:29 Why young kids use a lower strength
12:32 Is roflumilast a steroid
13:01 What is an open-label extension (OLE)
16:04 How the study was run
16:51 Who was in the study
17:58 Why skin tone matters
21:40 How they measured safety and results
26:26 How long clear skin lasted
28:54 How many kids finished the study
30:04 Safety results
30:27 Side effects
33:12 How well the cream worked
35:52 Clear skin with twice-a-week use
37:42 What the researchers said
38:15 Cutting back on steroid use
39:09 Study limitations
40:47 Doctor takeaways
