Daily moisturization is crucial for skin health and treatment outcomes in AD. The underlying barrier defects and subclinical inflammation, even in the absence of flaring, makes moisturization of lesion and nonlesional sites necessary.

Objective tests of skin barrier function have shown that moisturization (typically twice daily) significantly improves the skin barrier, demonstrated by increased skin hydration and decreased transepidermal water loss, in both adults and children with AD. Longer-term flare studies have shown that daily moisturization prolongs the time to flare and decreases the total number of flares. Also, Proactive moisturization of infants at high risk of developing AD may lessen its manifestation. 

Therapeutic moisturizers are available without a prescription, and their cost is identical to other nonprescription products that have no supporting data. The price of therapeutic moisturizers is markedly less than prescription barrier creams despite several studies having shown similar efficacy of the 2 types of product. Interestingly, Cetaphil and Eucerin have the most data to support their use and are among the cheapest to buy.

Thus, NPs/PAs comes to play a leading role in the management of AD and in recommending moisturizing products to patients. Therapeutic moisturizers with peer-reviewed clinical efficacy data for improving skin barrier function, which is approved by end-users and has a lesser cost make excellent recommendations for patients with AD. 

Source- Nicol NH, Rippke F, Weber TM, Hebert AA. Daily Moisturization for Atopic Dermatitis: Importance, Recommendations, and Moisturizer Choices. JNP. 2021;17(8):920-925. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2021.06.003