Role of Actives in Emollients in Atopic Dermatitis

The prevalence of atopic dermatitis (AD) in India is 2.7% (age 6–7 years) and 3.6% (age 13–14 years). Emollients remain mainstay treatment for atopic dermatitis. The present review article focuses on the role of active ingredients in emollients towards the management of AD. Article were selected by searching in database like Google Scholar and PubMed and were reviewed by the authors. Daily use of emollients from birth may significantly reduce the incidence of AD in a high-risk population. Emollients with a variety of active ingredients to target AD pathophysiology have been developed which contain active ingredients like liquorice extract (anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic), niacinamide (restoration of barrier function), sterols (restoration of barrier function), laureth-9-polydocanol (anti-pruritic), xylitol (microbiome maintenance) and galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS) (microbiome maintenance). Emollient plus may be a useful adjunct to pharmacological therapy in AD and as maintenance therapy, providing rapid and significant improvements in skin moisture, epidermal barrier function, and signs and symptoms of AD.