Evaluation of a Pseudoceramide Moisturizer in Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract

IntroductionTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of a pseudoceramide-containing moisturizer as maintenance therapy in patients with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD).MethodsThis was a prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical trial of a twice-daily application of a pseudoceramide-containing moisturizer for 4 weeks as maintenance therapy in 40 patients with stable, mild-to-moderate AD in a tropical climate. Clinical and skin barrier assessment was done at week 0, week 2 and week 4. Any adverse effects were also recorded during the study period.ResultsThe objective scoring atopic dermatitis decreased from 29.1 [interquartile range (IQR) 21.9–33.7] at week 0 to 22.0 (IQR 21.2–27.8) at week 4 (p < 0.001). There was no detectable difference in transepidermal water loss after 4 weeks; however, stratum corneum (SC) hydration was significantly increased from 39.7 (IQR 35.3–46.4) at week 0 to 49.2 (IQR 41.2–54.6) after 4 weeks (p < 0.001). Both Dermatology Life Quality Index and patient-oriented eczema measure showed significant improvement at week 4 (p < 0.001). The moisturizer was well tolerated with no serious adverse events recorded.ConclusionAfter 4 weeks of barrier maintenance therapy with a pseudoceramide moisturizer, there was a significant improvement in disease severity, SC hydration and quality of life in both pediatric and adult patients with mild-to-moderate AD.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13555-014-0048-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Adverse Events from Emollient Use in Eczema: A Restricted Review of Published Data

“…The characteristics of the included papers are summarized in Table 1 . Most studies were RCTs (17, 71%) [ 7 – 23 ], followed by non-randomized interventional studies (5, 21%) [ 24 – 28 ]. There was one cohort [ 29 ] and one case–control study [ 30 ].…”

“…There was one cohort [ 29 ] and one case–control study [ 30 ]. Most of the papers (13, 54%) did not specify the settings in which the studies were conducted [ 7 , 11 , 13 , 14 , 18 – 20 , 22 , 23 , 25 – 27 ]; however, ten studies took place in a specialist setting (7 secondary care centers [ 9 , 10 , 12 , 15 , 24 , 28 , 30 ], 2 research centers [ 8 , 21 ] and 1 mobile dermatological center [ 16 ]). One study took place in both a secondary care and a research centre [ 17 ].…”

“…There were ten (42%) studies involving just children [ 10 – 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 27 , 28 ], five (21%) with only adults [ 7 , 8 , 19 , 22 , 23 ] and nine (38%) involving both children and adults [ 9 , 13 , 16 , 20 , 24 – 26 , 29 , 30 ]. Eleven (46%) studies did not specify how the diagnosis of eczema was confirmed [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 13 , 15 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 30 ].…”

“…Eleven (46%) studies did not specify how the diagnosis of eczema was confirmed [ 7 , 8 , 10 , 13 , 15 , 22 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 30 ]. Six (25%) of the studies used Hanifin and Rajka criteria [ 9 , 14 , 18 , 19 , 21 , 27 ] and four (17%) used the UK Working Party’s Group criteria [ 11 , 12 , 17 , 24 ]. The eczema of participants in one (4%) study was diagnosed by a dermatologist [ 16 ], in one (4%) study diagnosis was based on Rajka and Langeland criteria [ 20 ] and in one (4%) study diagnosis was based on criteria of the Japanese Dermatological Association [ 23 ].…”

Efficacy of a moisturizer containing a pseudo‐ceramide and a eucalyptus extract for Japanese patients with mild atopic dermatitis in the summer

“…[5][6][7] Decreased ceramide levels in the stratum corneum are observed in AD patients. [8][9][10][11] The efficacies of topically applied ceramides, 12,13 pseudo-ceramide 14 , or precursors of ceramide, 15 have been reported for AD patients. A synthesized pseudo-ceramide (cetyl PG hydroxyethyl palmitamide), which compensates for natural ceramides, 16 effectively improves the skin symptoms of patients with AD.…”