View all news

The right moisturiser for children with eczema is the one that they like to use, study finds

Press release issued: 24 May 2022

The Best Emollients for Eczema trial has found that no one type of moisturiser is better than another. This study, the first in the world to directly compare different types of moisturisers, highlights the importance of patient education and choice when deciding which moisturisers to use for children with eczema. The results from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) funded study are published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health and British Journal of General Practice today [24 May].

Moisturisers (also called emollients) are recommended for the one in five children who have eczema (also known as atopic eczema/dermatitis), which causes dry and itchy skin. Over 100 different moisturisers are prescribed in the NHS, costing over £100 million a year. Lack of research in this area means NHS guidelines vary widely in what is recommended, which leads to confusion and waste.

In the study, led by the universities of Bristol, Nottingham and Southampton, 550 children with eczema aged under 12 years were randomised to use one of four types of moisturiser (lotion, cream, gel or ointment) as their main moisturiser for 16 weeks. Parents completed diaries about their child's eczema for a year, and some were interviewed to gain an in-depth understanding of how they used the moisturisers and what they thought of them. All children also had an independent examination of their skin.

Used alongside other eczema treatments, there was no difference in effectiveness of the four types of moisturiser used in the study. Skin reactions such as itching or redness were common with all moisturiser types. Awareness of the different types of moisturiser was low, and users had different preferences based on how the moisturisers look and feel. For example, some people liked how lotions quickly soaked in whereas others preferred the “barrier” provided by ointments.

Professor Matthew Ridd, a GP and study lead from Centre for Academic Primary Care at the University of Bristol, said: “A study of this type has been long overdue. It has not been in the interest of the manufacturers to directly compare types of moisturiser in the way we have done in this trial. Our findings challenge conventions about how often moisturisers need to be applied, which types are less likely to cause problems and which patients should be recommended certain types. For example, ointments are often suggested for more severe eczema, yet they were found to be no better.”

Hayley, the mother of Abriarna who took part in the trial, said: “The trial helped us find an emollient we had never used before, which has helped keep Abriarna’s skin in good condition for the longest time. Her ezcema often requires a different emollient for various purposes, for example, Abriarna has a regular day-to-day moisturiser, which we found through the trial. She then has an emollient for days when her ezcema is agitated and then an emollient to wash in as well as to use after handwashing.”

Tiffany Barrett, pharmacist and co-researcher added: “NHS prescribing of moisturisers is determined by locally agreed formularies. These formularies are based on both cost and perceived effectiveness. What this study does is emphasise the importance of having the four main types of moisturisers available on formularies for children with eczema, so that the right product can be used at the right time.”

Professor Hywel Williams, consultant dermatologist and co-researcher at the University of Nottingham, explained: “Along with anti-inflammatory treatments such as topical corticosteroids, emollients are a really key part of treatment for childhood eczema, preventing flares and helping to soothe the skin and improving the quality of life for children and their carers.

“Our study shows that one size does not fit all, and points to the need for doctors to make parents aware of the different emollient types and to help them choose which one is mostly likely to work for them. At last we have evidence that supports the saying, ‘The best moisturisers are the ones the patient will use.’”

Professor Nick Levell, NIHR National Specialty Lead for Dermatology, said: "Around one in five children get eczema and the scratching and sleep loss affects school performance and exhausts children and their parents. This study confirms that parent and patient preference is very important in choosing a moisturiser to treat eczema. Some people prefer ointments, but others like gels, creams or lotions. No one option is best. As reactions to moisturisers are common, it is important that the NHS provides a wide choice to help parents find something that soothes and calms their child’s fiery skin."

Further work is needed to determine if these findings apply to adolescents and adults with eczema, and people with other dry skin conditions.

Papers: Effectiveness and safety of lotion, cream, gel, and ointment emollients for childhood eczema: a pragmatic randomised, phase 4, superiority trial by M Ridd et al in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health

How parents and children evaluate emollients for childhood eczema: a qualitative study by Eileen Sutton, Alison RG Shaw, Matthew J Ridd, Miriam Santer, Amanda Roberts, Helen Baxter, Hywel C Williams and Jonathan Banks in British Journal of General Practice [online first]

Policy briefing: Offer choice of different emollient types and support their use in children with eczema by M Ridd. PolicyBristol.

Moisturiser decision aid: download from Eczema resources

Animation: Best Emollients for Eczema Study - what we found

Further information

About the Best Emollients for Eczema (BEE) trial
Best Emollients for Eczema was a research study designed to improve the treatment of childhood eczema by finding out which emollients (moisturisers) are most acceptable and effective. Follow us on Twitter: @bee_study

About the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR)
The mission of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is to improve the health and wealth of the nation through research. We do this by:

  • Funding high quality, timely research that benefits the NHS, public health and social care;
  • Investing in world-class expertise, facilities and a skilled delivery workforce to translate discoveries into improved treatments and services;
  • Partnering with patients, service users, carers and communities, improving the relevance, quality and impact of our research;
  • Attracting, training and supporting the best researchers to tackle complex health and social care challenges;
  • Collaborating with other public funders, charities and industry to help shape a cohesive and globally competitive research system;
  • Funding applied global health research and training to meet the needs of the poorest people in low and middle income countries.

NIHR is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care. Its work in low and middle income countries is principally funded through UK Aid from the UK government.

About the Centre for Academic Primary Care, University of Bristol
The Centre for Academic Primary Care (CAPC) at the University of Bristol is a leading centre for primary care research in the UK, one of nine forming the NIHR School for Primary Care Research. It sits within Bristol Medical School, an internationally recognised centre of excellence for population health research and teaching.

Follow us on Twitter: @capcbristol

Edit this page