INTRODUCTION
Atopic dermatitis (AD) or eczema is a common inflammatory skin disease with
a relapsing remitting course. Clinically, it is marked by xerosis and prutitus.1
Current estimates suggest that up to 20% of children2 and 10% of adults3 have eczema.
While prevalence data are sometimes disputed,
it is thought that the disease is becoming more common.4
Disruption of the epidermal barrier, as indicated by a reduction in skin
hydration5 and an increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL)4,6 is characteristic of AD.
Data suggest that TEWL correlate with clinical severity of AD.4,7 Whether abnormal skin
barrier function is a cause of atopic dermatitis or a consequence of the disease remains
controversial.6 Increasingly, researchers and clinicians recognize that disrupted barrier
function contributes not only to the xerotic and pruritic manifestations of AD, but also
to the inflammatory cascade that underlies the disease.8 These evolving concepts of AD
now indicate to clinicians that epidermal moisturization, which was long advocated as a
measure to provide symptomatic relief of eczema, may actually
help to address the underlying pathogenesis of the disease.
Topical corticosteroids remain the mainstay of AD therapy, because
they confer anti-inflammatory effects. 9 Among the various dosage forms of
corticosteroids on the market, ointment-based formulations continue to be widely
used in dermatology, due to their perceived occlusive and hydrating properties.
However, many patients and/or their parents/caregivers dislike the difficult and
messy application of ointments, especially on hairy areas or large body surfaces.
Novel formulations of dermatologic therapies offer additional options for prescribers
and their patients, including foams, sprays, shampoos, scalp-specific topical solutions,
and non-alcohol based gels that may provide hydrating and moisturizing effects.
Among these is the hydrogel, a mostly water-based, non-irritating, non-greasy vehicle
that is shown to moisturize the skin and achieve a high degree of patient satisfaction.
It was found in one study to offer several key benefits, as perceived by patients: being
easy to apply and spread, quickly-absorbing,
and comfortable under clothing and make-up.10
Specifically, desonide hydrogel 0.05% (Desonate, Bayer Dermatology) has
been shown effective for the management of pediatric atopic
dermatitis, 11 and was shown to have comparable efficacy to desonide ointment
but greater patient acceptance than the ointment in studies involving pediatric
and adult AD patients.12 However, few studies have investigated the short-term efficacy
of desonide hydrogel 0.05% and its effects on the pruritus associated with AD.
Study Rationale
While the repair of epidermal barrier is of the utmost importance in the treatment
of atopic dermatitis, most of the penetration enhancers in vehicles of topical
steroids may actually cause worsening of impaired epidermal barrier.13 Hydrogel
vehicle is anecdotally known to be moisturizing and hydrating, however, empirical
evidence is limited regarding these properties. A recent study showed that hydrogel
vehicle produced a statistically significant improvement in skin hydration
from baseline, whereas comparator lotion did not. Hydrogel did not
