title: Can early skin care normalise dry skin and possibly prevent atopic eczema? A pilot study in young infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic eczema (AE) affects approximately 20% of children in Northern countries. Onset during early infancy is common and is characterised by altered skin barrier, increased water loss and defective lipid layer. Restoration of skin barrier by emollients and/or oil baths is an important part of AE treatment, but its role in preventing xerosis and AE is unknown. The present pilot study aimed to assess if xerosis, and possibly AE, could be reduced at six months of age by early introduction of frequent oil baths/facial fat cream in infants with dry skin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A controlled intervention pilot study included 56 six-week-old infants with xerosis, but not AE. Skin quality score ranging from 0 (normal skin) to 4 (probable AE), was assessed at inclusion, three and six months of age, with skin quality at six months as main outcome. One well baby clinic was recruited for intervention, frequent skin care (oil bath (0.5 dl) and facial fat cream, five well baby clinics recruited for observation only.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention group (n=24) had more often normal skin (75%) at six months than the observation group (37.5%) (p<0.001), and less often probable AE (4.0 vs. 19.0%, respectively, ns). Oil baths were performed regularly, 2-4 up to 5-7 times/week in the intervention group, vs. fewer oil baths with sparse volume of oil in the observation group. No adverse reactions were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular oil baths in infants seem to reduce xerosis and may possibly reduce atopic eczema.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Oestfold Hospital Trust, Fredrikstad, Norway. Electronic address: bkvenshagen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kvenshagen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Paediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Carlsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mowinckel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Dermatology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Berents
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K C L
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carlsen
mesh_terms: D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009821:Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods; D063465:Skin Cream / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Infants; Skin barrier; Skin care; Xerosis