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| Kian Burns Loves Bath Time |
The NHS spends up to £16million a year on bath products for those suffering from eczema but a recent study claims it's all a waste of money!
The products, which can cost as much as 70p per bath, are supposed to help ease the skin inflammation but there is little clinical evidence to prove it. Allergic eczema is a condition which most commonly affects children. The researchers admit that applying specialist ointments and lotions straight onto the skin may be effective. Although there is little published evidence on whether topical treatments work, it says "long clinical experience has suggested that emollients applied directly to the skin are effective and safe".
But the researchers said that the same cannot be said for bath products which are generally thought to be an easier way of applying the treatment to a large skin surface area and they are also thought to trap moisture into the skin.
The National Eczema Society accused the researchers of ignoring "the extensive evidence from those patients and parents who find the use of bath emollients both soothing and extremely beneficial".
"Patients who use emollient bath oils to manage their eczema in this way can reduce the need for more specialized and expensive treatments," said its chief executive, Margaret Cox.
Colin Holden, president of the British Association of Dermatologists, which recommends the use of emollient baths, said "Emollient therapy has been a major therapy for eczema for centuries and all trials done in eczema have allowed bath oils. Our guidelines are based on current practice, which is derived from research, clinical experience, and patient responses."
October 2007
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