Efficacy of wet wrap therapy for atopic dermatitis undetermined

(HealthDay)—Evidence that wet wrap therapy (WWT) is more effective than topical steroids for the treatment of atopic dermatitis is mixed, according to a review published online Nov. 8 in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Guillermo González-López, from Hospital Universitario La Paz in Madrid, and colleagues conducted a literature review to identify randomized controlled trials assessing efficacy and safety of WWT among children or adults with a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis.

The researchers identified six trials comparing WWT against topical steroids, with sample sizes ranging from 19 to 51 patients. Results on clinical severity and quality of life were incomplete and heterogeneous across studies. Among those treated with WWT there was a nonsignificant tendency of increased risk of mild skin infections (pooled relative risk, 6.35; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.83 to 48.55).

"The evidence that WWT is more effective than conventional treatment with topical steroids in atopic dermatitis is of low quality," the authors write. "Further clinical trials should establish the efficacy of WWT in atopic dermatitis."