An over-the-counter moisturizer is as clinically effective as, and more cost-effective than, prescription barrier creams in the treatment of children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis: a randomized, controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent skin disorder with significant cost of treatment. Several prescription device moisturizers have been approved by the FDA to treat AD but are significantly more expensive than well-crafted over-the-counter (OTC) moisturizers. No studies have been performed to compare both the clinical efficacy and cost-efficacy of these prescription devices to OTC moisturizers.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical efficacy and cost-efficacy of a glycyrrhetinic acid-containing barrier repair cream (BRC-Gly, Atopiclair®), a ceramide-dominant barrier repair cream (BRC-Cer, EpiCeram®) and an OTC petroleum-based skin protectant moisturizer (OTC-Pet, Aquaphor Healing Ointment®) as monotherapy for mild-to-moderate AD in children.

METHODS

Thirty-nine patients, age 2-17 years, with mild-to-moderate AD were randomized 1:1:1 to receive one of three treatments-BRC-Gly, BRC-Cer or OTC-Pet-with instructions to apply the treatment three times daily for three weeks. Disease severity and improvement was assessed at baseline and on days 7 and 21.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference for any efficacy assessment was found between the three groups at each time point. The OTC-Pet was found to be at least 47 times more cost-effective than BRC-Gly or BRC-Cer.

LIMITATIONS

The relatively small sample size of 39 subjects was not sufficient to establish OTC-Pet as superior treatment in AD.

CONCLUSIONS

OTC-Pet is as effective in treating mild-to-moderate AD as both BRC-Gly and BRC-Cer and is at least 47 times more cost-effective.

NAME OF REGISTRY

II-AF-ATD-Aquaphor, Comparing the Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Aquaphor to Atopiclair and EpiCeram in Children with Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis. REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER: NCT01093469.

An Economic Evaluation of Four Skin Damage Prevention Regimens in Nursing Home Residents With Incontinence

PURPOSE

To determine the cost and efficacy of 4 different regimens of incontinence-associated dermatitis (IAD) prevention in nursing home residents.

METHODS

A multi-site open-label quasi-experimental study was conducted in 16 nursing homes stratified by location in 1 of 4 regions of the United States and randomly selected. In 3 of the 4 regimens, a moisture barrier ointment or cream of different compositions was applied after each episode of incontinence, and in 1 regimen, a polymer-based barrier film was applied 3 times per week. All regimens used a pH-balanced moisturizing cleanser. Time and motion measures were documented for the amount of skin care products used; the number, type, and time of caregivers performing IAD prevention care; and the number and type of supplies used. Rates of incontinence in each nursing home were determined during a 3-day surveillance period.

RESULTS

A total of 1,918 nursing home residents were screened, and 51% (n = 981) qualified for prospective surveillance of incontinence dermatitis; the majority were female (80.1%) and elderly (96% > or = 65 years old). A total of 78.6% (771/981) of the participants were incontinent of both urine and feces. Compared to the 3 regimens in which a barrier was applied after each episode of incontinence, the use of a regimen in which a barrier film was applied 3 times weekly had significantly lower costs for the barrier product, labor associated with barrier application, and total cost, which included products, labor, and supplies. There were also savings in total product (cleanser and barrier) and total labor costs.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a defined skin care regimen that includes a cleanser and a moisture barrier is associated with a low rate of IAD in nursing home residents who are incontinent. Use of a polymer skin barrier film 3 times weekly is effective for preventing incontinence-associated skin breakdown and can provide significant cost savings.

A comparison of cost and efficacy of three incontinence skin barrier products

Maintaining healthy, intact perineal skin in nursing home residents with incontinence is a challenge. Their condition puts them at risk for developing incontinence dermatitis, possibly predisposing them to develop pressure ulcers. To examine the cost-effectiveness of three perineal skin barriers (a polymer-based barrier film and two petrolatum ointments) used to prevent incontinence dermatitis, a 6-month descriptive study was conducted among residents (N = 250) from four long-term care facilities (nursing homes) in the upper Midwestern US. All residents were incontinent and had intact perineal skin when they enrolled in the study. An economic analysis was performed using time-motion data from a convenience sample of enrolled residents and their caregivers. Residents had an average of 4.1 (+/-2.307) incontinent episodes per day, the occurrence of incontinence dermatitis was 3.3 % and not significantly different between the different protocols of care (P = 0.4448). Results of the economic analysis showed that daily barrier application costs ranged from $0.17 for the barrier film to $0.76 for the ointments evaluated. With labor included in the analysis, costs were also lower for the barrier film that required the least frequent application ($0.26) compared to ointments that required more frequent application ($1.40). Results of this study suggest that the daily or three times weekly barrier film protocols are affordable alternatives to using petrolatum ointments in the prevention of incontinence dermatitis.

Infection and allergy incidence in ambulatory surgery patients using white petrolatum vs bacitracin ointment. A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of white petrolatum vs bacitracin ointment on wound infection incidence, allergic contact dermatitis incidence, and healing characteristics.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, prospective trial comparing white petrolatum with bacitracin ointment in postprocedure wound care.

SETTING

A general outpatient dermatology clinic and a tertiary referral advanced surgical procedure clinic at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.

PATIENTS

A total of 922 patients who had dermatologic surgery with a total of 1249 wounds.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of infection and allergic contact dermatitis during a follow-up period of 4 weeks. Healing characteristics were secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 922 patients enrolled, 440 in the white petrolatum group and 444 in the bacitracin group were evaluable for clinical response. The 2 treatment groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Thirteen patients developed postprocedure infection (1.5%), 9 (2.0%) in the white petrolatum group vs 4 (0.9%) in the bacitracin group (95% confidence interval for difference, -0.4% to 2.7%; P=.37). Eight infections (1.8%) in the white petrolatum group were due to Staphylococcus aureus vs none in the bacitracin group (P=.004). No patient in the group using white petrolatum developed allergic contact dermatitis vs 4 patients (0.9%) in the group using bacitracin (P=.12). Additionally, there were no clinically significant differences in healing between the treatment groups on day 1 (P=.98), day 7 (P=.86), or day 28 (P=.28) after the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

White petrolatum is a safe, effective wound care ointment for ambulatory surgery. In comparison with bacitracin, white petrolatum possesses an equally low infection rate and minimal risk for induction of allergy.

Psoriasis. How to keep mild disease from becoming severe

Progress in care of mild psoriasis has been slight. Good, practical therapy of mild disease emphasizes organization of and strict compliance to well-known therapies rather than use of new therapies. Of greatest importance is prevention of disabling severe disease. For severe psoriasis, which occurs infrequently, care is best assigned to dermatologists with special experience. Advances in oncology, bacteriology, and photobiology have led to new and effective treatments for severe disease. Because psoriasis is so poorly understood, physicians should be restrained from making claims about its causes and aggravating influences. Every affected patient deserves to be thoroughly informed about the disease and helped to obtain independence through an inexpensive therapeutic regimen that can be adapted to his or her job, income level, and lifestyle. There is no simple cure for psoriasis today.