PuraCap Pharmaceutical, makers of EpiCeram, an FDA-approved topical prescription emollient used to treat dry skin conditions and manage atopic dermatitis, is targeting patients with atopic dermatitis for summertime. The product is sold by prescription through pharmacies.
 
There’s a myth that atopic dermatitis only afflicts sufferers in the wintertime. However, the summer months can be just as rife with flare-ups if a patient is regularly involved in swimming. Both the summer heat and chlorine exposure may make symptoms worse.
 
“In addition, seasonal allergy flares can make skin more sensitive,” explains Kavita Mariwalla, MD, FAAD, Director, Mariwalla Dermatology in West Islip, New York. “People really need to protect their skin to lower their risk of infections and improve healing. A product like EpiCeram works to restore the skin’s natural barrier which is beneficial to the healing process,” she says.

EpiCeram contains all of the essentials for total skin barrier repair to relieve itching, dryness and redness. These include three essential lipids (ceramides, free fatty acids, and cholesterol) in a physiologically balanced ratio, which mimics the lipid concentration found in the skin.
 
The cream is also formulated with a pH of 5 to help normalize pH of skin and stop skin barrier disruption. With a unique controlled-release technology, EpiCeram delivers 24-hour barrier repair benefits with just twice-daily application.