title: Treatment of refractory cases of atopic dermatitis with acidic hot-spring bathing.
abstract: The incidence of refractory atopic dermatitis has increased in teenagers and young adults. The purpose of this study was to control the skin symptoms of such patients in daily life. Seventy patients repeatedly took a 10-min 42 degrees C acidic hot-spring bath twice daily. The skin symptoms were improved in 76% of cases. In 30 of 42 responders examined Staphylococcus aureus, detected on the skin surface, disappeared or decreased through balneotherapy. In contrast, S. aureus remained unchanged in 8 of 10 non-responders examined. Thus, the balneotherapy using acidic hot-spring water may be useful for controlling the skin symptoms of acute flares of refractory cases of atopic dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kusatsu Branch Hospital, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Machida
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Take
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurabayashi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akiba
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001452:Balneology; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011537:Pruritus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012008:Recurrence; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters