Trattamento topico delle dermatiti da contatto: validazione scientifica di una crema lenitiva a base di biotina, L-carnitina, pantenolo, α-bisabololo e tocoferolo. [Topical treatment of contact dermatitis with natural active principles]

Contact dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition characterized by erythe ma tous and pruritic skin lesions that occur after contact with a foreign substance. There are two forms of contact dermatitis: irritant (80% of cases) and allergic (20% of cases). The clinical features of contact dermatitis include, in the early stages, lesions characterized by erythema and vesiculation at the place of contact with the irritant (DIC) or sensitizing (DAC) substance. When it persists for a long time and becomes chronic, there is a reduction of erythema and the skin becomes dry. Itch is often associated with lesions; scratching induces lichenification with thickening and hyperkeratosis. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the clinical efficacy, in the main forms of contact dermatitis, of a cosmetic product for topical use, consisting of a mixture of active principles (biotin, L-carnitine, panthenol, bisabolol and !-tocopherol) capable of performing moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and soothing action, immediately and long term. 30 patients were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups: a first group of 20 patients who applied the active principle and a second group of 10 patients who used placebo. All had to apply the product 2 times/day on the affected areas. We evaluated the treatment benefits during 4 follow-up visits every 15 days (T0-T3). Objective and subjective criteria have been adopted for clinical evaluation: in particular objective symptomes: erythema, vesiculation, desquamation and lichenification, were assessed. Furthermore, subjective symptoms were evaluated through a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 regarding itch. The product was judjed by the patients as cosmetically pleasing, without the occurrence of undesired reaction to short-or long-term. The considerable objectivity improvement of the lesions, and the reduction of itching symptoms was observed in almost all the cases treated with this cosmetic product. Maintenance of results were evacuate through the increase of hydration, as consequence of the restoration of the stratum corneum function. The reconstruction of a proper epidermal barrier function, related to the anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and soothing properties of the substances studied, may explain the greater improvement in the group that underwent active treatment.