Treatment with a barrier-strengthening moisturizer prevents relapse of hand-eczema. An open, randomized, prospective, parallel group study.
Hand eczema influences the quality of life. Management strategies include the use of moisturizers. In the present study the time to relapse of eczema during treatment with a barrier-strengthening moisturizer (5% urea) was compared with no treatment (no medical or non-medicated preparations) in 53 randomized patients with successfully treated hand eczema. The median time to relapse was 20 days in the moisturizer group compared with 2 days in the no treatment group (p = 0.04). Eczema relapsed in 90% of the patients within 26 weeks. No difference in severity was noted between the groups at relapse. Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) increased significantly in both groups; from 4.7 to 7.1 in the moisturizer group and from 4.1 to 7.8 in the no treatment group (p < 0.01) at the time of relapse. Hence, the application of moisturizers seems to prolong the disease-free interval in patients with controlled hand eczema. Whether the data is applic-able to moisturizers without barrier-strengthening properties remains to be elucidated.
ACO HUD NORDIC AB, Eviderm Institute, Solna, Sweden. marie.loden@eviderm.se
Marie
M
Lodén
Karin
K
Wirén
Knut
K
Smerud
Nils
N
Meland
Helge
H
Hønnås
Gro
G
Mørk
Claus
C
Lützow-Holm
Jörgen
J
Funk
Birgitta
B
Meding
D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004485:Eczema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004643:Emollients / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
D004643:Emollients; D014508:Urea