Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema, a long-lasting skin condition that occurs most often in children but can affect people of any age. Atopic dermatitis can cause itchy skin, dry or scaly patches, and areas of thickened, inflamed skin. Symptoms may come and go with repeated flare-ups.
If you have atopic dermatitis, you probably already try to avoid triggers and use moisturizers or emollients to protect your skin. Your health care provider may also recommend topical medicines to help control your symptoms. One prescription medicine you might hear about is Adquey (difamilast).
The FDA approved Adquey in February 2026 for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in adults and children aged 2 years or older. It comes as a 1% ointment that is applied directly to affected areas of the skin.
This article answers frequently asked questions about Adquey for atopic dermatitis.
Is Adquey a Steroid? How Does It Work for Atopic Dermatitis?
No, Adquey is not a steroid. It contains the active ingredient difamilast, which is a phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor.
PDE4 is an enzyme involved in the body’s inflammatory response. Normally, PDE4 breaks down a substance inside cells called cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP). When difamilast blocks PDE4, levels of cyclic AMP increase inside the cells. Higher cyclic AMP levels help reduce the production of certain substances, called cytokines and chemokines, that cause inflammation.
By blocking PDE4 activity, Adquey can help lower inflammation. Lowering inflammation may help improve itching and other skin symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis.
How Is Adquey Used?
Adquey comes as a white to off-white 1% ointment that is applied to the skin. The typical instructions for Adquey are:
- Apply a thin layer to the affected areas of your skin twice daily, rubbing it in completely.
- Avoid applying Adquey to any areas of your skin that are infected.
- Apply Adquey only to the affected areas of your skin. Do not use it in the eyes, mouth, or vagina.
- Be sure to wash your hands after applying the medicine.
- Put the lid back on the tube and keep it tightly closed when not in use.
Follow your health care provider’s instructions while using Adquey. If you have questions about how to use Adquey, contact your health care provider.
How Was Adquey Studied for Atopic Dermatitis?
Adquey was tested in three clinical studies (trials 1, 2, and 3) that included a total of 612 adults and children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis.
The three studies included people of different age groups and locations:
- Trial 1 included adults and children aged 10 years or older across the United States, Australia, and Poland. The median (middle value) age was 30. In this study, 73% were White, 20% were Black or African American, and 4% were Asian; 18% of the subjects identified as Hispanic or Latino.
- Trials 2 and 3 took place in Japan, and all participants were Asian.
- Trial 2 included adults and adolescents aged 15 years or older (median age was 30).
- Trial 3 included children aged 2-14 years (median age was 7).
The main goal of the studies was to measure how many people achieved what is called “IGA success” at week 4. IGA stands for Investigator’s Global Assessment and is used to rate the overall severity of eczema symptoms on a grading scale of 0 to 4:
- 0 = clear
- 1 = almost clear
- 2 = mild
- 3 = moderate
- 4 = severe
To enter the studies, people had to have mild (2) or moderate (3) atopic dermatitis (using the IGA score) that affected 5%-40% of their body surface area. They also had to stop using any other treatments for atopic dermatitis to participate.
Participants were randomly assigned to use either Adquey or a placebo (“vehicle”) ointment that did not contain active medicine. Neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment each person received. In all three trials, people applied the assigned ointment to the affected area twice daily for at least four weeks.
To count as IGA success, a person had to have clear (0) or almost clear (1) skin and improve by at least 2 severity grades from where they started. For example, if someone entered the study with moderate (3) atopic dermatitis, their IGA score would need to drop to almost clear (1) to be considered successful.
What Were the Results of the Clinical Studies of Adquey?
In all three studies, more people using Adquey achieved clear or almost clear skin compared to those using the vehicle (placebo) ointment. Below are the results for IGA success at week 4:
| Adquey ointment | Vehicle (placebo) ointment | |
|---|---|---|
| Trial 1 (ages 10+) | 21% | 3% |
| Trial 2 (ages 15+) | 38% | 13% |
| Trial 3 (ages 2 to 14) | 47% | 18% |
These results show that Adquey helped more people achieve clear or almost clear skin after four weeks of treatment.
Keep in mind that individual results may vary. Not everyone in the studies achieved clear or almost clear skin.
How Fast Does Adquey Start to Work?
In studies, some people began to see improvement as early as one to two weeks after starting treatment with Adquey.
As explained above, the main goal of the research was to measure how many people achieved “IGA success” after four weeks, meaning their skin became clear or almost clear with at least a 2-grade improvement.
- At week 1, about 11% of people using Adquey in one of the studies reached this level of improvement, compared to less than 1% of those using the vehicle ointment (no active medicine in it).
- By week 2, improvement continued. About 23% of people using Adquey achieved IGA success, compared to 6% using the vehicle.
In addition to these primary results, other measures of eczema severity and itch also improved during the first few weeks of treatment. For example, researchers also measured symptom severity using a scoring system called the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI).
- At week 1, people using Adquey had an average reduction in overall EASI score of about 33%, compared to about 10% for those using the vehicle ointment (no active medicine in it). Improvements continued through week 4. By that time, the average EASI score decreased by about 49% with Adquey, compared to about 11% with the vehicle.
Keep in mind that results can vary. Some people may notice improvement within the first week, while others may need more time. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions about your response to treatment.
What Can I Do to Prevent or Manage Side Effects of Adquey?
In studies of Adquey, most people did not report side effects. The most common side effect was nasopharyngitis (cold-like symptoms). Some people experienced side effects such as inflamed hair follicles (folliculitis), rash, contact dermatitis, or skin infection (molluscum contagiosum).
In a longer-term study where people used Adquey for up to 52 weeks, a small number of people had to stop treatment due to skin problems at the application site, such as pain, redness, burning, blistering, or rash.
Good eczema skin care habits may help lower the chance of irritation and flare-ups. Keeping your skin well moisturized may help reduce dryness and irritation. Here are other tips to help ease irritation and protect your skin:
- Apply Adquey only to affected areas as directed by your health care provider.
- Do not use Adquey on skin that is infected.
- Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
- Avoid known triggers that worsen your eczema, such as skin products with fragrance, very hot showers, dry air, sweat, stress, or certain fabrics.
If you have bothersome side effects or notice new or worsening skin reactions, contact your health care provider. They can look at your symptoms and recommend the next steps.
How Can I Get Adquey?
Adquey requires a prescription from a health care provider. Adquey is not available over the counter. Talk with your health care provider to see if this medicine is right for your atopic dermatitis.
