Study Finds No Significant Protection from Moisturizers in Infants Prone to Atopy

A recent study led by Oregon Health & Science University has demonstrated that daily full-body application of emollients starting before nine weeks of age does not significantly reduce the risk of developing atopic dermatitis by 24 months in infants. The trial, part of the 'Emollients to Prevent Pediatric Eczema' research, involved 1,247 infants from various U.S. regions, including Colorado, North Carolina, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Participants' caregivers applied a bland moisturizer to the infants' entire bodies daily, excluding the scalp and diaper area if preferred, while control families refrained from routine emollient use. The findings showed that 36.1% of infants in the moisturizer group developed atopic dermatitis by age two, compared to 43.0% in the control group, indicating a modest but statistically significant reduction in risk. Interestingly, infants without a family history of atopy experienced greater benefits from the moisturizer intervention, with a 25% reduction in risk, whereas those with a family history showed a non-significant decrease. The study also observed that households with dogs experienced a stronger protective effect. Despite these nuances, the overall number-needed-to-treat was determined to be 15, implying that for every 15 infants treated, one case of eczema could be prevented. The research underscores that routine emollient use may not offer substantial benefits in high-risk groups but could be beneficial for low-risk infants. These insights contribute to ongoing discussions about early skin barrier intervention strategies for preventing atopic dermatitis in children.