F.D.A. Approves New Ointment for the Treatment of Eczema. The topical version of a powerful immunosuppressant (used to suppress rejection in transplant recipients) proves useful in relieving treatment-resistent eczema, probably by suppressing the overactive immune response in the skin in eczema. Because the eczema returns after the ointment is stopped, there’ll probably be a temptation to use it continuously or open-endedly. It appears safe at one-year followup, but don’t get your hopes up. Based on my knowledge (although, of course, a little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing…), I’d predict that prolonged use might contribute to an increased long-range incidence of skin cancer in sun-traumatized skin. This is because the immune system plays a role in scavenging sun-damaged tissue that might otherwise turn cancerous. And eczema certainly occurs on sun-exposed skin. New York Times