Key clinical point: Emollient bathing at 2 months is significantly associated with the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) by 2 years of age.
Major finding: The odds of developing AD were significantly higher among infants who had emollient baths and frequent (> 1 time weekly) emollient application at 2 months of age compared with infants who had neither at 6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.74; P = .038), 12 months (aOR 2.59; P < .001), and 24 months (aOR 1.87; P = .009) of age.
Study details: Findings are from a secondary analysis of the observational Cork BASELINE Birth Cohort Study and included 1505 healthy firstborn term infants who did or did not receive emollient baths and did or did not have emollients applied frequently at 2 months of age.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Science Foundation Ireland and Johnson & Johnson Santé Beauté France. J O’B Hourihane declared receiving research funding, speaker fees, and consulting fees from various sources.
Source: O'Connor C et al. Early emollient bathing is associated with subsequent atopic dermatitis in an unselected birth cohort study. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2023;34(7):e13998 (Jul 18). doi: 10.1111/pai.13998