title: Effect of emollients containing vegetable-derived lactobacillus in the treatment of atopic dermatitis symptoms: split-body clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) patients suffer from xerosis. Proper skin care, including the use of emollients, may help improve xerosis and minimize disease exacerbation. Lactobacillus sakei probio 65, isolated from the Korean vegetable-based product kimchi, can decrease interleukin 4 and immunoglobulin E levels and inhibit Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, it has reportedly shown positive dermatological effects in both animal and clinical studies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of an emollient that contains Lactobacillus (treated) with a normal emollient (control) on AD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind, randomized, split-body clinical trial involved 28 patients with AD. The patients applied the Lactobacillus-containing emollient on one side of their body and the control emollient on the other side twice daily for 4 weeks. Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin capacitance were evaluated and investigator global assessment and the visual analogue scale (VAS) were administered on weeks 0, 1, 2, and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treated sides had significantly lower TEWL and VAS values and significantly higher skin capacitance values over time than the control sides.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of Lactobacillus-containing emollients may improve the skin permeability of patients with AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeung Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeongheui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Ha
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chungnam National University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Emollients; Lactobacillus