title: Direct observed "soak and smear" therapy for severe eczematous dermatitis in the combat setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eczematous dermatitis is difficult to control in a combat setting and may result in a service member's early return to the United States. We report on seven patients with presumed eczematous dermatitis for whom traditional treatments had failed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of "soak and smear" in eczematous dermatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The patients were treated with 3 days of direct observed soak and smear therapy with topical steroids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All seven patients significantly improved with treatment, showing a decrease in investigator global assessment, patient self-assessment, and pruritus scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that direct observed soak and smear therapy is an effective tool with which to rapidly improve severe eczema. Additionally, this method can be used in the combat environment.
authors.affiliation: Uniformed Services Health Science University, Bethesda, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rustad
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Henning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D004485:Eczema / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D017592:Skin Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014221:Triamcinolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014221:Triamcinolone