A survey of bathing and showering practices in children with atopic eczema

Authors: Hon, K. L. E.; Leung, T. F.; Wong, Y.; So, H. K.; Li, A. M.; Fok, T. F.

Source: Clinical & Experimental Dermatology, Volume 30, Number 4, July 2005 , pp. 351-354(4)

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Abstract:

Summary

We evaluated the emollient use and bathing habits of children with atopic eczema (AE) managed at the paediatric dermatology clinic of a university teaching hospital, using children with noneczematous skin diseases as controls. Disease severity of AE in the preceding 12 months was evaluated by the Nottingham Eczema Severity Score. Three-quarters of patients with or without eczema preferred showering to bathing. Patients with AE were more likely to use bath oils than soap and to use emollients after a bath/shower. Review cases, however, were more likely to take a shower and for a longer time (10–30 min) than first-visit eczema patients. These habits did not vary with season or disease severity. Emulsifying ointment was the most commonly used agent for the bath/shower. Most patients applied emollient immediately after a bath/shower. However there were still significant proportions of AE patients who used soap (40% of first-visit vs. 27% of review cases) and who did not apply emollients after a bath/shower (25% of first-visit vs. 23% of review cases). It is important to determine whether this problem is due to inadequate patient education or whether other factors lead to poor compliance.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2005.01748.x

Publication date: 2005-07-01