Methods and compositions for treating atopic dermatitis

A method for treating or reducing the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in a subject comprising administering to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a cyclohexenone compound having the structure:

• wherein each of X and Y independently is oxygen, NR5 or sulfur;
• R is a hydrogen or C(═O)C1-C8alkyl;
• each of R1, R2 and R3 independently is a hydrogen, optionally substituted methyl or (CH2)m—CH3;
• R4 is NR5R6, OR5, OC(═O)R7, C(═O)OR5, C(═O)R5, C(═O)NR5R6, halogen, 5 or 6-membered lactone, C1-C8alkyl, C2-C8alkenyl, C2-C8alkynyl, aryl, glucosyl, wherein the 5 or 6-membered lactone, C1-C8alkyl, C2-C8alkenyl, C2-C8alkynyl, aryl, and glucosyl are optionally substituted with one or more substituents selected from NR5R6, OR5, OC(═O)R7, C(═O)OR5, C(═O)R5, C(═O)NR5R6, C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, C2-C8 alkynyl, C3-C8 cycloalkyl, and C1-C8 haloalkyl;
• each of R5 and R6 is independently a hydrogen or C1-C8alkyl;
• R7 is a C1-C8alkyl, OR5 or NR5R6;
• m=1-12;
• and
• n=1-12;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, metabolite, solvate or prodrug thereof.