‘Emollients plus’ with Vitreoscilla filiformis in monotherapy and adjunctive therapy in skin diseases in children

Abstract

IntroductIonOne of the most common childhood skin diseases is atopic dermatitis (AD), which affects about 20% of children worldwide [1]. According to the ECAP (Epidemiologia Chorób Alergicznych w Polsce) study data, 3.91% of children suffer from AD in Poland (6-7 years old: 5.34%, 13-14 years old: 4.3%) [2]. The disease is manifested by characteristic skin changes with the morphology of eczema, located in typical areas often visible to others. It is chronic, with periods of exacerbation and remission, and is accompanied by persistent pruritus and sleep disturbances. AD significantly reduces the quality of life of patients and their fami- AbstrActIntroduction: Emollients are topical preparations, the role of which is to maintain or restore epidermal barrier function, proper hydration, and elasticity of the skin. In recent years, a special range of 'emollients plus' enriched with additional active substances has been developed. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of emollient preparations with Vitreoscilla filiformis in patients up to 18 years old with skin diseases that present with dryness. Material and methods: From October 2022 to January 2023, an observational study was conducted in Poland. A total of 386 children were recruited for the study, primarily suffering from AD (85.2%) and other skin diseases associated with dryness (23.6%). Results: After 4 weeks of regular usage of emollient products containing Vitreoscilla filiformis in the form of syndet and balm, the severity of the skin disease, dryness, and the surface area of inflammatory changes decreased in 81.8%, 88.0%, and 70.7% of children, respectively. Furthermore, the patient's overall quality of life associated with experiencing symptoms of skin disease significantly improved across all three factors evaluated; reduction in pruritus and severity of daily discomfort were declared by 81.4% and 80.7% of children, respectively. Sleep quality improved in 65.7% of children. An improvement was also observed among patients who solely used the emollient products with Vitreoscilla filiformis without any prescription (RX) treatment. Conclusions:The results indicate that emollient preparations with Vitreoscilla filiformis are effective and well-tolerated by patients with skin diseases that present with dryness. They can be used as monotherapy or as an adjunctive therapy.