Efficacy and safety of an over-the-counter 1% colloidal oatmeal cream in the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children: a double-blind, randomized, active-controlled study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of an over-the-counter (OTC) 1% colloidal oatmeal cream versus a prescription barrier cream in children with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis (AD). Materials and methods: Eligible patients (6 months–18 years) were randomized to OTC or prescription cream. Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) scores, Investigator’s Global Atopic Dermatitis Assessment (IGADA) scores, patients’ and/or caregivers’ assessment of itch using 10-cm visual analog scale (VAS) on day 0, weeks 1, 2, and 3 were assessed. The intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) populations were analyzed. Results: Ninety patients (mean [SD] age, 8.1 [4] years; boys, 45.6%; African American, 54.4%) were randomized (OTC cream, 45; prescription cream, 45). At week 3, EASI scores showed that the OTC cream was non-inferior (non-inferiority margin = 1.5) to the prescription cream (adjusted mean change [95% CI] from baseline: ITT, 0.18 [−0.35, 0.70]; PP, 0.14 [−0.42, 0.70]). IGADA (adjusted mean between group difference, 0.106 [−0.130, 0.341]) and VAS itch (0.103 [−0.831, 1.038]) scores improved in both groups. No safety issues were identified. Conclusion: OTC 1% oatmeal cream was equally effective and safe as the prescription barrier cream for the symptomatic treatment of mild-to-moderate AD in children. Trial registration number: NCT01326910

Keywords

• atopic dermatitis
• mild to moderate
• oatmeal cream
• over-the-counter
• prescription barrier cream
• quality-of-life