A balanced and diverse skin microbiome is pivotal for healthy skin. Dysregulation of the skin microbiome could disrupt the skin barrier function and result in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), a common chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder. Given the role that the skin microbiome plays in the initiation and maintenance of AD, maintaining a healthy skin microbiome is crucial for effective disease management. Specifically, current guidelines recommend emollients as the treatment mainstay in maintaining a functional skin barrier across disease severity. Emollient 'plus' or therapeutic moisturisers have recently emerged as the next-generation emollients that specifically aim to rebalance the skin microbiome and subsequently improve AD lesions. This article provides a quick overview of an emollient 'plus' or therapeutic moisturiser, discussing the clinical efficacy and tolerability of Lipikar Baume AP+M as a companion in AD management.
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema and the most burdensome skin disease globally, affecting nearly 223 million. A major AD predisposition is genetic susceptibility, affecting skin barrier integrity and cell-mediated immunity. Manifesting as red, dry, and itchy skin, basic treatment involves skin hydration with emollients. Despite their effectiveness, poor patient compliance remains a major drawback. In severe cases, medicated emollients are used, but carry risks, including skin thinning, and immunosuppression. Hence, hydrogels have emerged as a promising alternative for AD management based on their ability to improve skin hydration, attributed to their hydrophilicity and high water retention capacity. Moreover, researchers have loaded hydrogels with various compounds for AD management; they also hold the potential to reduce systemic side effects of commercial drugs by enhancing dermal retention. Hydrogels address the challenges of patient compliance based on their non-greasy texture and reduced application frequency. Their appeal also stems from their versatility, as they can be fabricated from varying polymers. Due to their abundance, this review focuses on polysaccharides including alginate, cellulose, chitosan, and hyaluronic acid, which are preferred for fabricating natural and modified natural hydrogels for AD. It also briefly explores hydrogel application methods and key AD models.