Scientists involved in treating skin conditions such as eczema have turned their attention to the type of clothing worn by patients and come up with an innovative fabric which has been shown in clinical trials to offer significant advantages over commonly used cotton underclothes.



The development of this fabric, which is impregnated with an antibacterial Microbial Shield, has resulted in the design of a range of underwear for use as part of the eczema treatment programme and helps control the terrible ‘itch-scratch’ cycle. Called DermaSilk, this new innovative product range is now being launched in the UK.

1 IN 3 PEOPLE IN THE UK SUFFER FROM ECZEMA

Eczema is one of the most difficult and unpleasant conditions that children suffer from. The recent ‘Department of Health Review of Services for Allergy’ published in July this year states that 1 in 3 people in England have Eczema during their life and mostly in childhood with this figure increasing every year.

Treatment for eczema varies, depending on the level of the condition, but for children with severe symptoms the whole treatment process needs to be all embracing and can severely restrict their lives and have a major impact on family life.

There is no one treatment that can clear eczema, it usually requires combined action. The worst and most difficult element to control is the itching and scratching which leads to weeping and bleeding skin. Until now there have been few dressing options that can alleviate this condition.

DERMASILK UNDERWEAR A BREAKTHROUGH IN ECZEMA TREATMENT

The range offers a clinically proven collection of children’s underclothes which, as part of a treatment programme, can bring fast relief to the itching and scratching and can help promote the active healing of the affected areas.

The collection includes vests, pants, baby suits, gloves and leggings.

The concept for this highly specialised collection of underwear was developed by Espère Healthcare’s partners in Italy who have combined the known traditional healing properties of silk with today’s state-of-the-art anti-microbial technology.

DermaSilk Therapeutic Underwear is made from pure, medical grade silk which has been impregnated with an antibacterial Microbe Shield. This range is classified as a Medical Device in the EU and is supported by clinical trial data.

CLINICAL TRIAL

A clinical trial, published in the British Journal of Dermatology in 2004 compared the effects of cotton and silk clothing on children with acutely inflamed atopic eczema. The children were divided in to two groups:

Group A was instructed to use DermaSilk and group B used cotton clothing. Both groups also used moisturising cream. After one week the state of the children’s eczema was evaluated using a validated scoring system (the SCORAD index). In addition, the local score of an area covered by DermaSilk was compared with the local score of an uncovered area in the same child. The results showed a significantly greater improvement in DermaSilk children compared to the cotton group, and in the local area covered by DermaSilk compared to the corresponding area left uncovered.

Further trials are currently awaiting publication and are expected to reinforce these conclusions.

Dr Rupert Mason, the medical advisor to the company said: “Eczema can be one of the most distressing conditions that children can suffer and it torments them in many ways. The introduction of the DermaSilk underwear range has many benefits not only for its therapeutic value but also in its design and construction, as the range looks very normal, reducing the self-conscious element children feel in front of their peer group."

CONTROLS BODY TEMPERATURES

Excessive moisture loss is a common feature of all eczema patients. Unlike cotton garments, DermaSilk absorbs excessive moisture without feeling damp and therefore allows better control of body temperature, staying cool when it is warm and warm when it is cool. This is important in maintaining the water balance of the skin.

Importantly for mothers these are easy-to-care garments which when washed by hand with a non-biological detergent retain their antimicrobial efficacy for over 50 washes.

DERMASILK ON LINE

The DermaSilk range starts at £15.00 for specially designed gloves and includes baby-suits, pants, vests and leggings.

These can be ordered direct from Espere Healthcare Ltd either via their website www.dermasilk.co.uk or from their brochure which can be obtained from PO Box 44, Shefford, Beds, SG17 5ZH. Telephone: 08700 42 42 32