Ammonium lactate 12% lotion versus a liposome-based moisturizing lotion for plantar xerosis. A double-blind comparison study

Two emollients, ammonium lactate 12% lotion and a liposome-based moisturizing lotion, were compared in a double-blind test for efficacy in the treatment of plantar xerosis. A total of 43 out of 57 participants (75%) with bilateral plantar xerosis followed instructions completely and applied the lotions (one to each foot) twice daily for 4 weeks. Each participant was evaluated once a week for 6 weeks (the final 2 weeks for evaluation of post-treatment regression) to determine xerotic grade (degree of dryness) and treatment effectiveness. With both lotions, significant improvement began during the second week of treatment and continued into the fourth week. There were no significant differences between the two lotions in the 6-week patterns of either xerotic grade or treatment effectiveness.