‘Wet-wrap’ dressings for the treatment of atopic eczema in the community

Abstract

Atopic eczema is the most common skin disease in children under the age of 11 years. The aim of topical therapy is to protect the skin from scratching and environmental factors, and to suppress the inflammatory changes and infection if present. The use of dressings in the management of atopic eczema is often undervalued. We report our experience on the use of ‘wet-wrap’ dressings in chronic severe eczema in the community. Of 21 children, 8 male and 13 female, with eczema managed using wet-wrap dressings, topical steroid creams and emollients, all responded well to the treatment with wet-wraps. The treatment was also well tolerated. Parents enjoyed learning the technique and being more actively involved in the management of their child's eczema. Most parents (20/21) reported using less topical steroid per week following the introduction of the technique.

Key Words:

• Atopic eczema
• Dressings
• Domiciliary care
• Topical steroids