Eczema on the hands and feet can be especially hard to live with. Even when it covers only a small part of the body, the itch and pain can get in the way of everyday tasks. It’s also common: up to 60 percent of people with atopic dermatitis have it on their hands, and about 30 percent have it on their feet.
As reported by Dermatology Times, new data suggest Ebglyss (lebrikizumab-lbkz) may help. The findings were presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna.
What the Research Shows
The 16-week ADtouch trial included 221 adults and teens 12 and older with moderate-to-severe eczema on their hands and feet. None had gotten enough relief from topical treatments. Half received Ebglyss injections every two weeks after an initial loading dose, and half received a placebo. Everyone also used moisturizer on their hands and feet.
- Skin: By week 16, 53 percent of people taking Ebglyss had clear or almost clear hands and feet, compared with 27 percent on placebo.
- Itch: 57 percent had a meaningful drop in itch, compared with 19 percent on placebo. Some saw that improvement as early as week 2.
- Pain: 59 percent had a meaningful drop in pain, compared with 19 percent on placebo.
Patients noticed the difference, too. Among participants who were unhappy with how their hands looked at the start, 77 percent of those on Ebglyss said they were satisfied or very satisfied by week 16, compared with 40 percent on placebo. Only 6 percent of the Ebglyss group needed rescue medication, compared with 18 percent of the placebo group.
Side effects were mild or moderate, and the most common were colds and upper respiratory infections. There were no new safety concerns.
What Dermatologists Want You to Know
“For people with hand and foot atopic dermatitis, a relatively small area of affected skin can have an outsized impact on daily life,” said Shawn G. Kwatra, MD, chair of dermatology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Kwatra noted that the findings show why it matters to look at symptoms like pain and itch, not just how much skin is affected.
What This Means for You
Ebglyss works by blocking IL-13, a protein that drives eczema inflammation. It’s already FDA-approved for adults and children 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds (40 kg) with moderate-to-severe eczema that topical prescriptions haven’t controlled, or when those treatments aren’t advisable.
Maker Eli Lilly has submitted the new data to the FDA, seeking a label update that would cover moderate-to-severe eczema concentrated on the hands and feet. In the meantime, if your hand or foot eczema isn’t responding to creams, bring it up with your dermatologist.
