Daily moisturizing of your baby’s skin may provide lasting benefits
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Regular application of moisturizers to your baby’s skin can potentially lower the chances of developing eczema, though it largely depends on the individual’s risk factors.
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition marked by intense itching and dryness, which can lead to blisters and bleeding. It often begins in early childhood, with many experiencing a decline in symptoms as they age.
To evaluate the effectiveness of moisturizers, Hywel Williams and his team at the University of Nottingham in the UK surveyed over 1,200 parents in the United States whose infants did not have eczema.
Among the infants aged 0-8 weeks, half had a family history of eczema, indicating a higher genetic predisposition to the condition.
The researchers randomly assigned about half of the parents to apply one of five available moisturizers, which were non-prescription options. Parents could select and swap moisturizers as they preferred.
The remaining parents were advised to only use moisturizers as needed, such as when their baby’s skin looked dry. More than half reported using them at least once weekly.
After two years, the research team reviewed the infants’ health records. They found that 43% of the non-moisturizer group had received an eczema diagnosis, compared to only 36% in the moisturizer group. “This represents a significant decrease,” said Michael Cork from the University of Sheffield, UK.
However, upon further analysis, the researchers discovered that moisturizers were effective primarily in babies without close relatives who had eczema. This finding aligns with previous research, highlighted in a study indicating that moisturizers may not benefit those at high genetic risk for the condition.
Individuals with lower genetic risk might develop eczema due to environmental influences like air pollution. Moisturizers are theorized to fill the gaps between skin cells, thus blocking irritants from penetrating the skin and triggering inflammation that manifests as eczema.
In contrast, those with a high genetic predisposition to eczema may already exhibit heightened levels of inflammation, which could limit the protective benefits of moisturizers, Cork noted.
The study did not determine which moisturizer was most effective as parents were not monitored for changing between different options. Further investigation is necessary, Cork stated.
There is a need to explore whether these findings hold true for populations in other countries, suggested Carsten Flohr from King’s College London.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
