Evidence-based management of eczema: five things that should be done more and five things that should be dropped.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW:

We provide readers with an evidence-informed opinion on current treatments for eczema (atopic dermatitis) with the intention of improving patient care. We suggest five treatment aspects that should be promoted and five that should be demoted. Evidence sources include key randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews.

RECENT FINDINGS:

Under-treatment of eczema can be countered by more aggressive use of topical therapies including the 'get control then keep control' regimen, and systemics for severe disease, supplemented with good patient education. Topical corticosteroids should be used once daily rather than twice daily. Topical calcineurin inhibitors are useful for sensitive sites. There is little evidence to support the continued use of oral antihistamines, oral or topical antistaphylococcal treatments for infected eczema or probiotics for treating eczema. Nonpharmacological treatments including silk clothing, ion-exchange water softeners and emollient bath additives have not been shown to benefit eczema patients. Despite promising pilot studies, large trials suggest that emollients from birth do not prevent eczema and may result in harms such as increased skin infections and food allergy.

SUMMARY:

New evidence-based insights on existing and newer treatments allow clinicians the opportunity to change their practice in a way that enhances patients' quality of life.

• Authors: Bayanne Olabi, Hywel C Williams
• Journal: Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology (Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol) Vol. 21 Issue 4 Pg. 386-393 (08 01 2021) ISSN: 1473-6322 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 33993140 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Emollients

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Dermatitis, Atopic (drug therapy)
• Eczema (therapy)
• Emollients (therapeutic use)
• Evidence-Based Medicine
• Humans
• Quality of Life
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Systematic Reviews as Topic