Revisiting Hydrotherapy

Most American sixth-graders didn’t travel to France last summer, and those who did probably spent their time at sites like the Eiffel Tower or Champs Elysees. But 11-year-old Aidan Moffet experienced a unique part of France in the Orb Valley, when he went to the Avène Hydrotherapy Center. He returned for his third round of therapy for severe recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. Aidan and his family, along with his dermatologist, say the results are impressive. 

Aidan in 2013 (above) and summer 2015 (below).

Aidan’s skin showed signs of atypia from birth, according to his mother April Moffet. He tried various therapies to limited results. “I was getting kind of frustrated because nothing was working and he seemed to be getting worse,” Mrs. Moffet says. Aidan couldn’t tolerate moisturizers other than petroleum jelly.

Increasingly frustrated, Aidan’s parents even turned to homeopathic remedies like Rooibos tea, rose oil, and tea tree oil. “We just did everything in our power to get him to look better and to feel better because he was in so much pain.” Ms. Moffet explains. “By the time he was in second grade he was so sick and had already been hospitalized five times. I had to pull him out of school…He was getting staph infection after staph infection.” Eventually he developed a MRSA infection.

Aidan is candid about life with eczema: “I felt isolated and trapped because I couldn’t experience things that other kids could do on a daily basis.” He was frustrated and angry at God. “I was mad at him and I didn’t want this anymore,” he recounts.

When a friend told Ms. Moffet about the Avène Hydrotherapy Center, she was intrigued. “I spoke to his dermatologist about it and, thank God, she is very open minded. She researched it and she said, ‘It’s just water, it’s not going to hurt him, so let’s give it a try.’”

Dallas dermatologist Nnenna Agim, MD, admits she was “very skeptical” about the potential effects of thermal spring water on AD, but in the end she referred Aidan. “Evidence suggests that the water therapy resets the microbiome,” she says. The mechanism, “is not fully explained, but it makes sense.”

The Science to Date

There is scientific evidence of benefits associated with various forms of mineral water therapy. “Hydrotherapy is not an empirical therapy. It is based on scientific studies,” maintains Marie-Ange Martincic, Director, Avène Hydrotherapy Center.

A literature search finds thermal spring water has shown benefit for atopic dermatitis¹ and psoriasis^2,3 and reduced pain, dryness, and redness after fractional resurfacing.⁴

Thermal spring water has been associated with suppression of cell proliferation and inflammatory mediators.⁵ In one investigation, spa water was shown to suppress inflammatory cytokines and modulate differentiation of CD4(+) T cells.⁶

Researchers believe that the clinical effects of Avène’s thermal spring may be related to the mineral signature along with a unique microorganism called Aqua. Dolomiae. “The research on this micro-organism, responsible for the biological signature, has shown that it contains fractions with properties that calm sensations of itching, soothe redness and irritation and help to support the skin’s defense system,” Ms. Martincic says. “It has been proven⁷ that during treatment at Avène, the colonization of S aureus was eliminated and replaced by a natural flora beneficial for the skin.” Hydrotherapy may be used alone or as an adjunct to standard therapies, as in Aidan’s case.

The Effects

Ms. Moffet says that center personnel were, “a little apprehensive” about Aidan’s first visit; his eczema was so bad. The first trip was challenging—“He was just miserable, he was itchy and that was a long couple of flights”—but after a few days of treatments, he was looking forward to more sessions.

Following his latest treatment, Aidan is, “like a different person,” Ms. Moffet says, estimating that he is 80 percent improved. “He wakes up, he is able to move, he is able to lotion himself up now by himself…He has been off of steroids and he has been infection-free since May of 2013.” Dr. Agim says she “was amazed by how good he looked” after treatment.

“I feel like an actual 11-year-old kid now because I feel a lot more alive and it makes me really, really, really happy that I can be this kid now. I can be myself,” Aidan says.

Ms. Moffet says that beside the improvement in his skin, Aidan has reduced anxiety. “He is not scared of anything anymore,” she says. “His mental health as well as his physical health is much improved.”

For more, visit PracticalDermatology.com.n

1. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2011 Feb;25 Suppl 1:2-5. 2. J Drugs Dermatol. 2015 Dec 1;14(12):1400-5.

3. Ann Dermatol. 2014 Apr;26(2):221-30. 4. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2009 Jun;8(2):114-8.

5. Ann Dermatol. 2015 Dec;27(6):709-14. 6. Ann Dermatol. 2012 Aug;24(3):324-36.

7. Eur J Dermatol. 2013 Nov-Dec;23(6):786-94.