Environmental deterioration, smog, water containing chlorine and stress - these are some of the factors which affect the quality of life for all of us. However, children are most susceptible to environmental deterioration. Each year the number of allergic children increases and approximately 20% of all newborn children have an allergy.
The children's skin that is most exposed to the effects of environmental factors responds very sensitively. The situation is yet more difficult in children with atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema – AE). In addition to the therapy of the underlying disease a regular skin care with suitable products is extremely important. Vitella Oilbath contains a combination of well balanced substances which are suitable for children's skin and provides the patients and their mothers with a very effective skin care.
Atopic dermatitis (atopic eczema - AE) is the most common disease of children's skin. In central Europe it affects 15-20% of children and 3% of adults. The disease has often a genetic background. In case that both parents have an allergy there is a 75% chance that the child will be affected. The probability is 19% in non-atopic parents.
One of the characteristic symptoms of AE is dry skin, caused by the insufficient functional lipid barrier which allows water to escape and the skin becomes drier and itches. Such affected skin is not able to provide its protective function and is much more open to various allergens which cause inflammation and the symptoms of a disease.
It is important to note that AE cannot be completely treated but its symptoms can be reduced and therefore the quality of life for patients can be improved.
In the local therapy of AE it is possible to use for example corticoids, emollients (e.g. Vitella U), creams (e.g. Vitella Ictamo/Ictamo Pro) and/or oil baths (Vitella Oilbath).
47 pediatric patients with dry skin and/or atopic eczema were monitored in a study performed in the Czech Republic. Mainly those patients who did not have the disease for the first time were included in the study (Table 1). Out of all monitored children there were 45% girls in the study. The mean age was 4.42 years. The family history was positive in 79% of the observed children (Table 1).
AE occurred in most cases (79%) on several places of the body at the same time and in 13% of cases it occurred on the whole body. Vitella Oilbath (olive oil, sunflower oil, vitamins A, E) was applied in children once daily in the bath for a period of one month. Also some other products were used in some patients (Table 2).
In the majority of cases (89%) a moderate to significant improvement of the affected lesions was reported after a one-month therapy with Vitella Oilbath (a possible combination with other products) in children both with regard to a subjective evaluation and from the physician’s point of view (Graph 1).
Side effects were monitored together with the therapy in children. No undesirable effect on the children's skin related to Vitella Oilbath was seen in any patient which is supported by a high percent of patients who continued using Vitella Oilbath (Table 3).
Children’s skin is very sensitive to the deterioration of environmental factors. The civilization factors – polluted air, increase of allergens - follow children from their birth. A selection of local (or systemic) therapy and respecting certain "regimen precautions" are important in patients with atopic eczema.
47 children with atopic eczema were treated concomitantly with an oil bath with Vitella Oilbath and other emollients, corticoids, immunomodulators or they were free of therapy. Most of the patients (79%) had a positive family history.
After a one-month application of Vitella Oilbath a more marked improvement of the affected lesions occurred in 89% of patients both subjectively and from the physician’s point of view. Most children continued using the product.
Vitella Oilbath which contains a balanced combination of sunflower and olive oil, vitamins A and E is an excellent product for pediatric patients not only with atopic eczema.
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