The effect of two urea-containing creams on dry, eczematous skin in atopic patients. I. Expert, patient and instrumental evaluation

Abstract

The management of atopic dermatitis includes moisturizing creams, although scientific studies of their influence on the skin are scarce. In the present randomized double-blind study, the effects of a new moisturizing cream were compared with those of an already registered medicinal cream in the treatment of dry, eczematous skin in atopic patients, using multiple methods. The new cream contained 5% urea as active substance and the established licensed cream contained 4% urea and 4% sodium chloride as active ingredients. The new cream was studied in 25 patients and the established cream was tested in 23 patients.

The patients were asked to apply the cream to dry, eczematous areas at least once daily for 30 days. At inclusion in the study and after 15 and 30 days of treatment the severity of the dry skin was evaluated by a dermatologist, assessed by the patients and measured in terms of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin capacitance. Both groups improved during the study, but no statistically significent differences between them were found. This multi-parametric approach covers different aspects of skin dryness and provides the possibility of evaluating treatment effects in a cost-effective way.

Key Words:

• Moisturizer
• Dry skin
• Cream
• Transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
• Capacitance