The purpose of the study is to test the selected methods and to explore the effect of nature-based exposure on immunological biomarkers and the condition of atopic skin. Overall purpose is to test the safety and feasibility of a new nature-exposure method on atopic skin: regular use of lotion containing inactivated microbial extract that mimics Finnish forest microbial biodiversity.
According of hygiene and biodiversity hypotheses, regular contact to nature biodiversity is beneficial for human health. Without the contact, there is risk for immune system malfunction and related diseases like atopy, allergies and inflamed bowel diseases. Regular contact to natural biodiversity, including environmental microbes, add immunological tolerance and train immune system to separate dangerous external stimuli from non-dangerous ones. This study aim at testing if it is safe to use microbial extract in lotion on daily basis on atopic skin. Study participants are adults and they have atopic dermatitis diagnosis. Participants use the lotion with microbial extract on other arm and placebo lotion (same lotion but microbial extract is replaced with safe coloring ingredient) on the other arm two times per day for 28 days. Atopy medicines are not used on the study period and 14 days before the study. Also, other moisturizers than test lotions are not used on test areas during the study. Study is placebo controlled, randomized and double-blinded.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
12
Participants use the lotion including microbial extract on one arm twice a day for 28 days. No other lotions or creams are used simultaneously on this area. Atopy medicines are not used during the trial or 14 days before the trial.
Participants use the lotion including safe, non-active coloring ingredient on one arm twice a day for 28 days. No other lotions or creams are used simultaneously on this area. Atopy medicines are not used during the trial or 14 days before the trial.
Uute Scientific Oy
Helsinki, Finland
Transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
TEWL measurement from each test area (arms)
Time frame: 0, 14 and 28 days
Skin erythema index
Erythema index measurement from each test area (arms)
Time frame: 0, 14 and 28 days
SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis)
Scoring of atopic dermatitis (whole body) by dermatologist. Scale 0-103.
Time frame: 0 and 28 days
Local scoring of eczema on arms
Local scoring of eczema only on arms (each arm separately) by dermatologist. Scale 0-18.
Time frame: 0 and 28 days
Pro-inflammatory cytokines on skin
Tape strip samples from both arms and cytokine analysis from the samples.
Time frame: 0 and 28 days
Self evaluation of eczema symptoms and effect of the lotion
Filling of self questionnaire every week
Time frame: 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days
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