Wet-wrap dressings alleviate the symptoms of neurodermitic skin.
Wet-wrap dressings are an effective and established therapy in acute episodes of atopic eczema. This method supplies neurodermitic skin lastingly with lipids and moisture, is cooling and alleviates typical symptoms such as itching. In addition wet-wrap dressings help inflammations and skin changes recede faster. The quality of life of persons affected is improved by this form of therapy lastingly.
It is very easy to apply wet-wrap dressings:
• First a care product is put on the affected areas of the skin and • then the areas are covered with a tubular bandage (e.g. Coverflex) moistened in water. • Afterwards another dry layer of the tubular bandage is applied.
Lotions, creams and greasy ointments which otherwise are suitable for the treatment of neurodermitic skin can be used as skin care products. Meanwhile the treatment of an acute episode of neurodermatitis with wet-wrap dressings has proven to be effective also when combined with antiseptics or topical corticosteroids.
Wet-wrap dressings improve the efficacy of topical corticosteroids.
Wet-wrap dressings plus topical adrenocortical steroids significantly improve the condition of the skin in neurodermatitis.
It was proven in a clinical study that wet-wrap dressings improve the efficacy of treatment with topical adrenocortical steroids (R. Foelster-Holst et al: Topical corticosteroid prednicarbat with and without partial wet-wrap dressing in atopic dermatitis. Dermatology 2006; 212: 66-69). Patients with an acute episode of atopic eczema were treated on one arm and/or leg with the topical adrenocortical steroid prednicarbat plus a wet-wrap dressing (Coverflex). The other leg or other arm was solely treated with the corticoid.
Both therapeutic methods clearly improved the condition of the skin. However symptoms such as erythema, papules, itching or also weeping receded much faster under the combined treatment using the steroid plus a wet-wrap dressing than under sole corticoid therapy. The authors of the study concluded that the treatment of an acute episode of atopic eczema with adrenocortical steroids plus wet-wrap dressings is an effective method of alleviating symptoms. In addition wet-wrap dressings shorten the period during which the patient must be treated with topical corticoids.
