Efficacy of an emollient containing diethylene glycol/dilinoleic acid copolymer for the treatment of dry skin and pruritus in patients with senile xerosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS:

Pruritus frequently reduces quality of life (QOL) in patients with senile xerosis. This study investigated the moisturizing and antipruritic effects of a topical emollient containing a diethylene glycol/dilinoleic acid copolymer (D/DC) in patients with pruritic senile xerosis.

METHODS:

This single-blind study involved 50 subjects, aged 50-75 years. Patients were randomized to self-applied treatment of the lower legs with 10% (n = 20) or 20% (n = 20) D/DC-containing cream, white petrolatum (n = 5), or no treatment (n = 5) thrice daily for four weeks. Clinical scores of skin dryness and scratch marks, skin conductance, and Skindex-16 were evaluated before and after treatment. The degree of pruritus was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) score once a week.

RESULTS:

Patients treated with 10% and 20% D/DC showed significant improvements in skin dryness and scratch mark scores, as well as increased skin conductance, compared with the untreated group, whereas white petrolatum treatment improved only skin dryness scores. Moreover, patients treated with 20% D/DC showed significant improvements in skin dryness scores and skin conductance compared with white petrolatum treatment. The VAS scores in the D/DC-treated and white petrolatum-treated groups were significantly lower than in the untreated group, being particularly lower after one week of treatment with 20% D/DC.

CONCLUSION:

Topical application of an emollient containing D/DC is effective in improving skin dryness and pruritus in patients with senile xerosis.

• Authors: Runa Izumi, Osamu Negi, Tamie Suzuki, Mitsutoshi Tominaga, Atsuko Kamo, Yasushi Suga, Shoko Matsukuma, Kenji Takamori
• Journal: Journal of cosmetic dermatology (J Cosmet Dermatol) Vol. 16 Issue 4 Pg. e37-e41 (Dec 2017) ISSN: 1473-2165 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 28371078 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Emollients
• Ethylene Glycols
• Petrolatum
• Linoleic Acid

Topics

• Aged
• Emollients (therapeutic use)
• Ethylene Glycols (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Galvanic Skin Response (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leg Dermatoses (drug therapy)
• Linoleic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Petrolatum (therapeutic use)
• Pruritus (drug therapy)
• Single-Blind Method
• Skin Aging
• Skin Diseases (drug therapy)
• Visual Analog Scale