Meta-analysis: Early Use of Emollients Can Help Preventing AD in High-risk Infants

Emollient emulsion is likely he optimal option in infancy to prevent AD development.

Early application of emollients is an effective strategy for preventing atopic dermatitis  (AD) in high-risk infants, according to a meta-analysis in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology & Venereology.

The analysis included 11 randomized controlled trials involving 3,483 infants. Three types of emollients, including cream, emulsion, and mixed types were comparable in preventing AD; however, an additional analysis suggested that emollient emulsion may be the best option.

“The results of this systematic review and network meta-analysis show that early application of skin emollients can effectively prevent AD development in infants,” the authors wrote. “Moreover, among the available three types of emollients, the emollient emulsion is probably the optimal option in infancy to prevent AD development more effectively.”