Moisturizers Do Not Prevent Eczema In Children

Moisturizers do not prevent eczema in children

The researchers found no evidence that daily moisturizing during the first year of life can prevent eczema. However, it was found to be associated with a modest increase in the risk of skin infections.

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Moisturizing the skin daily does not reduce the risk of developing eczema in at-risk babies, researchers from the University of Nottingham have found. The research results are published in The Lancet.

Eczema is a common chronic skin disorder that usually begins in infancy. It is believed that dry and damaged skin can be the impetus for its development. Moisturizers improve the skin's barrier function by protecting the outer layer and trapping moisture. Therefore, regular use of moisturizers is recommended to prevent eczema in newborns.

Scientists included 1,394 newborns in the study, whose close relatives suffered from eczema, asthma or hay fever. The babies were randomly divided into two groups. In one group, parents applied a moisturizer all over their child's body daily until the child was one year old, while in the other group no moisturizer was used. All parents received general advice on skin care.

The researchers found no evidence that daily moisturizing during the first year of life can prevent eczema. However, it was found to be associated with a modest increase in the risk of skin infections and early signs of an increased risk of food allergy.

The authors report that significant progress has been made in recent years in the treatment of severe eczema, but the issue of its prevention is still open. While small studies have shown that using moisturizers right from birth can prevent eczema, their larger studies have not shown any beneficial effects.

Scientists noted that the results of the study relate only to prevention, since the effectiveness of using moisturizers for eczema has been scientifically proven.