Twice-daily moisturization is recommended by international guidelines as the key to management of atopic dermatitis (AD). 

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology assessed the efficacy of commercially available moisturizers using objective measures of corneometry, transepidermal water loss or incidence of flare as endpoints.

In this study, a search was conducted from PubMed database for clinical trials assessing daily moisturization for the treatment of AD published between 2006 and 2019. 

The results revealed that twice daily moisturization significantly improved the skin barrier in adults and children with AD. In addition, longer-term flare studies showed that daily moisturization reduced the incidence of flares and extended the time between flares. Meanwhile, proactive moisturization of infants at high risk of developing AD may reduce its manifestation. 

Therapeutic moisturizers for AD are specifically formulated with ingredients that target the symptoms of AD, such as itch, inflammation or compromised skin barrier. Healthcare providers can maximize compliance and outcomes by educating patients on the benefits of liberally applying a therapeutic moisturizer twice daily to support the skin barrier and help reduce the incidence of flares. 

Source: American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2020 Oct;21(5):641-655. doi: 10.1007/s40257-020-00529-9.