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Clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis
G Ricci1, A Patrizi, B Bendandi
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 11, 40138 Bologna, Italy. ricci@med.unibo.it
Insights
Special silk clothing significantly reduced eczema severity in children with atopic dermatitis (AD). This study found silk fabric effective for managing AD lesions in young children, offering a potential therapeutic option.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pediatrics
- Textile Science
Background:
- Atopic dermatitis (AD) in children is often exacerbated by irritants like detergents, certain fabrics, and environmental conditions.
- Managing acute eczema lesions in young children requires effective and safe interventions to prevent further aggravation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy of specialized silk fabric garments (MICROAIR DermaSilk) in treating young children diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.
- To evaluate the impact of silk clothing on acute AD lesions compared to conventional cotton clothing.
Main Methods:
- Forty-six children with acute AD were divided into two groups: one wearing silk clothes (Group A, n=31) and a control group wearing cotton (Group B, n=15).
- Both groups received standard moisturizing treatments; only Group A wore silk garments for one week.
- Disease severity was quantified using the SCORAD index, with comparisons of local skin scores between silk-covered and uncovered areas.
Main Results:
- Children wearing silk garments showed a significant reduction in overall AD severity (mean SCORAD decrease from 43 to 30, P=0.003).
- The silk-covered areas exhibited a significantly greater improvement in local skin scores compared to uncovered areas (P=0.001 vs. P=0.112).
Conclusions:
- The use of specialized silk clothing demonstrates potential as a beneficial component in the management of atopic dermatitis in pediatric patients.
- Silk fabric may offer a therapeutic advantage by mitigating the effects of irritants on sensitive skin affected by eczema.
Background:
In children with atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema is easily aggravated by contact with irritant factors (e.g. aggressive detergents, synthetic and woollen clothes, climatic factors).
Objectives:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a special silk fabric (MICROAIR DermaSilk) in the treatment of young children affected by AD with acute lesions at the time of examination.
Methods:
Forty-six children (mean age 2 years) affected by AD in an acute phase were recruited: 31 received special silk clothes (group A) which they were instructed to wear for a week; the other 15 served as a control group (group B) and wore cotton clothing. Topical moisturizing creams or emulsions were the only topical treatment prescribed in both groups. The overall severity of the disease was evaluated using the SCORAD index. In addition, the local score of an area covered by the silk clothes was compared with the local score of an uncovered area in the same child. All patients were evaluated at baseline and 7 days after the initial examination.
Results:
At the end of the study a significant decrease in AD severity was observed in the children of group A (mean SCORAD decrease from 43 to 30; P = 0.003). At the same time, the improvement in the mean local score of the covered area (from 32 to 18.6; P = 0.001) was significantly greater than that of the uncovered area (from 31 to 26; P = 0.112).
Conclusions:
The use of special silk clothes may be useful in the management of AD in children.
