A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to assess the usefulness of medical moisturizers (heparinoid preparation, urea preparation and petrolatum) for improving the dry skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), using the following parameters : water content of stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), dermatological findings, and severity of itching. Each moisturizer was applied onto the bilateral forearm flexor surfaces with a chief symptom of dryness associated with subsiding skin inflammation twice daily for three weeks, followed by a one week observation period, during which no treatment was given to the target sites. All three moisturizers significantly increased the water content of stratum corneum during the application period. Of these, the heparinoid preparation yielded the highest water content of stratum corneum, and this effect lasted throughout the observation period as well. Dermatological findings and itching significantly improved with all moisturizers, but TEWL did not reduce. Thus, this study provides evidence for beneficial effects of all moisturizers studied on dermatophysiological dysfunction in AD patients and for a higher moisturizing efficacy of the heparinoid preparation than the urea preparation or petrolatum.
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