Questionnaire survey of the efficacy of emollients for adult patients with atopic dermatitis.

Emollients are useful and important treatment adjuncts for patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). Heparinoid mucopolysaccharide creams or lotions are emulsion ointments for moisturizing the skin. The objective of this study was to investigate the view among adult AD patients regarding the effectiveness of emollients. We developed a questionnaire at our University Hospital to characterize how patients with AD viewed the efficacy of emollients. Patients were asked to participate prior to treatment and the questionnaire was given within 1 month of treatment. The severity of AD was graded as mild, moderate, severe or very severe. The severity scoring was performed only when the participants answered the questionnaire. Of the 110 enrolled AD patients, 103 returned the completed questionnaires. Ninety-eight patients (95.1%) used heparinoid mucopolysaccharide creams or lotions. There was a strong correlation between their view of the efficacy of the emollient and the condition of dry skin, pruritus and eczematous skin. There was a significant correlation between AD severity and the perceived efficacy of the emollient for dry skin, pruritus and eczematous skin. There was a greater sense of efficacy among patients with milder AD than in more severe AD cases. Patients who felt sufficient efficacy of the emollient for pruritus were significantly older than those who felt there was no efficacy. In addition, the age of onset of AD was significantly higher among those who felt sufficient efficacy for pruritus compared to those who felt little efficacy. We speculate that the efficacy of emollients could be demonstrated in the treatment of milder AD, but may only have partial efficacy in more severe cases. Emollient therapy might have lower efficacy for pruritus among younger or earlier onset AD patients.