A proposal for the use of new silver-seaweed-cotton fibers in the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a disease with multifactorial etiology. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the predominant environmental factors acting on the course and intensity of the disease. Objectives: The aims of the study were to evaluate the efficacy and safety of clothing made of cellulose fibers with seaweed enriched with silver ions in the treatment of children with AD. Methods: A prospective, randomized and double-blinded controlled selection was done to recruit 19 children with diagnosis of AD. This sample was divided in two groups with similar demographic and clinical characteristics (the "control'' group of seven children who wore placebo clothing and the "trial textile'' group of 12 children who wore clothing with the new textile). The severity of AD and clinical response were assessed by the SCORAD index, the intensity of pruritus and the changes in sleep characteristics, at the start of the study and after 7 and 90 d. Results: The SCORAD index improvement in the group with the fiber under study was statistically significant after the first 7 d of treatment (p<0.001) and was reduced by about 45% after 90 d. There was also a statistically relevant reduction of the intensity of pruritus and an improvement in the sleep quality after the initial 7 d and at day 90. Conclusion: The results showed that the textile clothing with seaweed enriched with silver ions brings a quicker improvement of the patients in the first days in opposition to the use of standard all-cotton clothes. The results also reinforce the importance of non-pharmacological measures, like clothing, in the management of patients with a diagnosis of AD.