Over the counter moisturizers just as effective as costly prescription creams for mild-to-moderate eczema

Atopic dermatitis is a skin disorder, and can be expensive to treat. Prescription device moisturizers which have been approved by the FDA are significantly more expensive than well-crafted over-the-counter moisturizers, and scientists from the department of dermatology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA, have found that they do a similar job.

Thirty-nine patients aged 2-17 with mild-to-moderate eczema were split randomly to receive one of three treatments – two of which were prescription and costly, one of which was 47 times cheaper. They found that there was no difference in efficacy between the three creams.

Source: Journal of Drugs in Dermatology

May 2011

 

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