Superiority of a vitamin B12-barrier cream compared with standard glycerol-petrolatum-based emollient cream in the treatment of atopic dermatitis: A randomized, left-to-right comparative trial

Dermatol Ther. 2017 Sep;30(5). doi: 10.1111/dth.12523. Epub 2017 Jul 4.

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a result of complex genetic, epigenetic, environmental, and immunological interactions with an overlapping epidermal barrier defect. The study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of topical Vitamin B12-barrier cream (MB12) compared with standard glycerol-petrolatum-based emollient cream (GPC) used three times a day for mild AD. The study was conducted as a on one hemi-body randomized, controlled, single-blind, intra-patient left-to-right comparative trial by patients with clinical diagnosis of mild AD measured with total SCORAD index over 4 months. MB12 was compared on one hemi-body treated (GPC). The comparisons of score values were performed primarily by using non-parametric procedures: Mann-Whitney-U test (for independent samples) and Wilcoxon test (for dependent samples). All 22 patients were randomized (left or right side treated with MB12 or GPC). At week 12 a reduction from baseline in SCORAD index was assessed in both body sites with 77.6% SCORAD index reduction in the MB12 treated body sites versus 33.5% in the GPC treated body sites. These results suggest that MB12 could represent a new option in the treatment of mild AD.

Keywords: atopic dermatitis; hydration; skin barrier.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Cutaneous
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / pathology
  • Dermatologic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Dermatologic Agents / adverse effects
  • Emollients / administration & dosage*
  • Emollients / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Glycerol / administration & dosage
  • Glycerol / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Petrolatum / administration & dosage
  • Petrolatum / adverse effects
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vitamin B 12 / administration & dosage*
  • Vitamin B 12 / adverse effects

Substances

  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Emollients
  • Petrolatum
  • Vitamin B 12
  • Glycerol