Aim:
To describe the methodology in studying patient’s acceptability and efficacy of an
ectoin containing emollient for atopic dermatitis (AD).
Methods:
We described the methodology that we used in studying emollients and moisturisers, and
patient acceptability of a group of AD patients before and following usage of an ectoin-containing
proprietary emollient. These data were also compared with other brand emollients that we previously
reported, namely Restoradom®, Ezerra® and Ezerra plus®.
Results:
30 subjects (50% Male, Mean (SD) age: 9.8 (3.6) years with AD used the trial emollient
W for four weeks. AD severity of subjects (by objective SCORAD) was moderate (n=22) and severe
(n=8). Compliance was good and patients generally managed to use the moisturisers daily,
with individual reports of a ‘tingly’ sensation by some subjects when applied to inflamed wounds.
63% reported “very good” or “good”, whereas 37% reported “fair” or “poor” acceptability of the
moisturisers. Following use of the trial emollient, area affected, disease intensity and severity significantly
improved, as demonstrated in objective SCORAD (p=0.002). There were also significant
improvements in POEM (p=0.035), and PADQLQ scores (p=0.017). For skin measurements, only
transepidermal water loss had improved (p=0.035) after the treatment. There was no significant improvement
of itch or sleep scores, skin hydration, pH, S. aureus colonization status, or need for use
of topical medications. When compared with historical data of other emollients, the mean age of patients
on emollient W was younger; efficacy and acceptability among these emollients were similar.
Conclusions:
Methodology of emollient research is described. Doctors should provide evidencebased
information about the efficacy of emollients. The ectoin-containing proprietary emollient
improves disease and quality of life following its use in 4 weeks. Efficacy and acceptability are
similar among 4 proprietary emollients.
Either transepidermal water loss rates or stratum corneum hydration levels can predict quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis
