title: Antimicrobial silk clothing in the treatment of atopic dermatitis proves comparable to topical corticosteroid treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is aggravated by mechanical irritation and bacterial colonization.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the efficacy of an antimicrobial silk fabric (DermaSilk) with that of a topical corticosteroid in the treatment of AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen children were enrolled and wore a dress, where the left side was made of DermaSilk and the right side was made of cotton. The right arm and leg were treated daily with the corticosteroid mometasone for 7 days. The treatment efficacy was measured with a modified EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index) and with an assessment by the patients/parents and by a physician. All patients were evaluated at baseline, as well as 7 and 21 days after the initial examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters showed that, irrespective of the treatment, there was a significant decrease of eczema after 7 days. No significant difference between DermaSilk-treated and corticosteroid-treated skin could be observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DermaSilk showed potential to become an effective treatment of AD.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Experimental Immunotherapy, Department of Dermatology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. gabriela.senti@usz.ch
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Senti
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Steinmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurmann
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storni
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmid-Grendelmeier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wuthrich
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Kundig
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003020:Clothing; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004485:Eczema / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D047011:Silk; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D047011:Silk; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate