Adjunctive therapy for atopic dermatitis in daily practice: Key issues for effective patient management

  • 10min
  • May. 2022
  • Supported by
    • La Roche-Posay

Adjunctive therapy should be an integral part of the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) as recommended by international guidelines. It offers physicians the opportunity to offer comprehensive treatment to improve their patients’ condition, bringing many benefits:

  • Prevents the reappearance of clinical signs
  • Enhances compliance
  • Ultimately improves patients’ quality of life.

Dermocosmetics used as adjunctive therapy have demonstrated their efficacy in both dermatological practice and the literature.



How can someone choose an effective dermocosmetic product for adjunctive therapy?


Its efficacy has been demonstrated in vivo

The adjunction of dermocosmetics versus conventional treatment alone may have significantly improved patients’ conditions in clinical trials following gold standard protocols:

  • Efficacy and safety evaluated clinically, under realistic conditions, in patients with skin conditions
  • Double-blind randomized studies vs. placebo, excipient or other reference product
  • Scientific studies carried out by independent medical or scientific teams.

The results of clinical trials have been published in internationally recognized journals or presented at several scientific congresses.

Specific information is available on its use:

  • Clearly identified ingredients (full labelling)
  • Safe formulation charter
  • Implementation of cosmetovigilance.

Why recommending dermocosmetics as adjunctive therapy for patients with AD?



What is expected from dermocosmetics as adjunctive therapy in atopic dermatitis?


Two types of skincare products will improve your AD patient’s condition:

  • Emollients, which work to rebuild the skin barrier
  • Hygiene products for gentle and safe cleansing

Gelmetti C., Grimalt R., Bieber T., et al., Emollient as adjunctive therapy in the management of atopic dermatitis: a multicentric clinical study.

Bibliography

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  2. Schäfer L., Kragballe K. Abnormalities in epidermal lipid metabolism in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Invest Dermatol. Janv 1991 ; 96(1) : 10–5.
  3. Imokawa G., Abe A. Jin K. et al. Decreased level of ceramides in stratum corneum of atopic dermatitis: an etiologic factor in atopic dry skin? J Invest Dermatol. Avr. 1991 ; 96(4) : 523–6.
  4. McGrath J.A., Uitto J. The filaggrin story: novel insights into skin-barrier function and disease. Trends Mol Med. Janv. 2008 ; 14(1) : 20-7.
  5. Olsson M, Broberg A., Jermas M. et al. Increased expression of aquaporin 3 in atopic eczema. Allergy. Sept. 2006 ; 61(9) : 1132–7.
  6. Sator P.G., Schmidt J.B., Hönigsmann H. Comparison of epidermal hydration and skin surface lipids in healthy individuals and in patients with atopic dermatitis. J Am Acad Dermatol. Mars 2003 ; 48(3) : 352-8.
  7. Grimalt R., Mengeaud V., Cambazard F. et al. The steroid-sparing effect of an emollient therapy in infants with atopic dermatitis: a randomized controlled study. Dermatology. 2007 ; 214(1) : 61-7.
  8. Msika P., De Belilovsky C., Piccardi N. et al. New emollient with topical corticosteroid-sparing effect in treatment of childhood atopic dermatitis: SCORAD and quality of life improvement. Pediatr Dermatol Nov-Déc. 2008 ; 25(6) : 606–12.
  9. Darsow U., Wollenberg A., Simon D. et al. ETFAD/EADV eczema task force 2009 position paper on diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. Mars 2010 ; 24(3) : 317– 28.