Stand-alone Emollient Treatment Reduces Flares After Discontinuation of Topical Steroid Treatment in Atopic Dermatitis: A Double-blind, Randomized, Vehicle-controlled, Left-right Comparison Study.

Prevention of flares is a main goal in the long-term treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). This study investigated the efficacy of a water-in-oil emollient, containing licochalcone A, omega-6-fatty acids, ceramide 3 and glycerol, for prevention of flares in adults with mild to moderately severe AD, who had been treated with topical steroids, which had led to clearing of the inflammatory lesions and had been discontinued prior to inclusion. The study was a 12-week, double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled, left-right comparison test with the number of relapses, defined as re-occurrence of erythema for at least 3 consecutive days, considered the primary outcome. Compared with the vehicle, the active formulation significantly reduced the number of relapses and maintained the barrier homeostasis of the respective arm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show prevention of AD flares by use of stand-alone emollient treatment, based on comparison with the corresponding vehicle while excluding concomitant/rescue medications.