Consensus Guidelines for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Korea (Part I): General Management and Topical Treatment

Database and literature research

The 12 members of the working group each conducted separate comprehensive computerized database searches of MEDLINE (accessed by PubMed) and Embase from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2014, using combinations of the search terms "atopic eczema", "atopic dermatitis", "bathing", "cleanser", "triggering factor", "environment", "avoidance", "clothing", "food", "education", "psychosocial support", "topical agents", "emollient", "moisturizer", "wet wrap treatment", "topical" "topical corticosteroid", "calcineurin inhibitor", "pimecrolimus", "tacrolimus", "antibiotics", "antimicrobials" "topical anesthetics", "topical antihistamine", "capsaicin", "tiacrilast", and "phosphodiesterase inhibitors". These searches were supplemented by hand-searching references from related systematic reviews and guidelines of other groups. The members collected all the relevant statements on managing AD from the identified references.

Evaluation of the literature

The members of the working group graded the evidence of each statement and then classified the strength of the recommendation for each statement. The evidence of each statement was graded as follows: level 1, systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and individual RCTs; level 2, systematic review of cohort studies and individual cohort study (including low-quality RCTs); level 3, systematic review of case-control studies and individual case-control studies; level 4, case series (and poor-quality cohort and case-control studies); and level 5, expert opinion. The strength of each recommendation was classified as A (level 1), B (levels 2 and 3), C (level 4), or D (level 5) (Table 1)7.

Table 1
Level of evidence and strength of the recommendations

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Consensus process

A total of 39 of 54 KADA council members participated in the vote on the draft guideline statements. Each statement was given along with its grade of evidence and recommendation strength. Each participant had one vote per statement. Participants scored their level of agreement with each draft statement on a scale of 1~9, where 1 represented strong disagreement and 9 represented strong agreement. Each voting score was assigned to one of three groups: disagreement (1~3), neutrality (4~6), and agreement (7~9). Consensus was defined as ≥75% of participants scoring within the 7~9 range (agreement).

A second vote was performed after disclosing the additional information of previous voting results, including the mean score and proportion of agreement.

Bathing and basic skin care

Basic skin care, including bathing, represents a first strategy to maintain a good skin barrier and prevent and eliminate more severe infections, ultimately resulting in the normalization of immunologic responses and inflammation1. Bathing can provide hydration of the skin and removal of scale, crust, and irritants such as sweat and allergens. The application of moisturizer soon after bathing is crucial for the further maintenance of hydration, because water easily evaporates from the skin, resulting in a higher transepidermal water loss8.

The recommendations for bathing are summarized in Table 2, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Generally, a maximum bathing frequency of once per day is recommended2. Strongly scrubbing with a towel is not recommended9. The proper duration of bathing is a short period of time (e.g., 5~10 min)2, 10, as some experimental studies have revealed that significantly longer exposure to water can disrupt the structural integrity of the skin barrier14, 15, 16. Warm or lukewarm water (27℃ to 30℃) is recommendedas the avoidance of temperature extremes is established in the management of AD17. There are very limited data about the usefulness of bathwater additives in the treatment of AD.

Table 2
Expert consensus recommendations for bathing and basic skin care

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AD skin is vulnerable to increased skin surface pH, which has various effects on barrier function, desquamation of corneocytes, induction of inflammation, secretion of lamellar bodies, and antimicrobial defense18, 19, 20, 21. Nonsoap cleansers (e.g., syndets, aqueous solutions), which have a neutral or low pH and are less allergenic, nonirritating, and fragrance-free, are recommended. Soap-based cleansers, which have a high pH and contain surfactants, should be avoided, because they can cause dry skin, irritation, and contact dermatitis11, 12, 13. Antiseptic-containing cleansers are not recommended due to the limited duration of action of antiseptics and limited clinical data regarding their effectiveness3. Although one RCT provided evidence for the effectiveness of a bleach bath to control moderate to severe AD infections (2b, B)22, 23, 24, 25, 26, the use of a bleach bath in the treatment of AD failed to achieve a consensus among Korean experts. Elimination of the belief that natural ingredients in cleansers or emollients are better is necessary. "Natural" does not mean "safe"; sometimes, these natural ingredients may have a higher risk of producing contact dermatitis.

Gentle drying after bathing (a soft-pat dry with a towel and the avoidance of rubbing) is recommended27. After bathing and soft-pat drying, the application of moisturizer is recommended.

Avoidance of exacerbating factors

Recognition of exacerbating or triggering factors is an indispensable component of the personalized avoidance strategies in patients with AD, and these recommendations are summarized in Table 3, 4, 5, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. Such factors may differ according to age, environment, and individual social and daily lifestyles. In addition to climate and pollution, other known AD-exacerbating factors include clothing, the presence of house dust mites (HDMs) in the home, cosmetics, certain foods, dietary changes, physiological stressors (infections, sweat, etc.), and emotional stress38. One recent multicenter, cross-sectional, epidemiologic study including 125 adults and 116 children with moderate to severe AD found that the factors most commonly perceived by patients as triggers of AD flares were perfumes and personal hygiene products (44% of adults, 34.5% of children), followed by articles of clothing, presence of HDMs, sudden changes in temperature, and stress. The foods most frequently perceived as triggers were sweets (3.88%), seafood (2.33%), and eggs (2.33%) among adults and eggs (7.63%) and fish (3.05%) among children.

Table 3
Expert consensus recommendations for avoidance of exacerbating factors

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In the second half of childhood and in adulthood, the most common airborne allergens exacerbating AD are derived from HDM species. In more than 90% of Korean homes, the level of exposure to HDMs is clinically remarkable. More than 40% of patients with AD are sensitized to HDMs39. The severity of AD is related to indoor concentrations of HDMs in children without sensitization to HDM, and this concentration likely acts as a nonspecific irritant as well as an allergen40. Avoidance of HDMs is an effective method that can be used to control AD exacerbation28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 41. At 25℃ and 75% relative humidity, HDMs can grow well and their antigen concentrations can accumulate33, 34. Controlling the environment and vacuuming mattresses daily can significantly decrease one's level of exposure to HDMs35.

Allergens should be determined by assessing clinical symptoms and laboratory test results. The proper diagnosis of contact dermatitis using patch testing and other tools to confirm true immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergies must be undertaken to avoid specific contact with the allergen3, 4, 5, 38.

To diagnose a food allergy, clinical symptoms or signs after suspected food allergen intake or exposure must be reproducible, as broad-panel allergy testing unrelated to a clinical history of a reaction to certain foods should be avoided. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Food Allergy Expert Panel advocates food allergy testing only in cases of children younger than 5 years of age with moderate to severe AD and treatment resistance despite proper management and topical therapy and/or consistent episodes of an immediate allergic reaction after eating a specific food36, 37. Food diaries are useful for this purpose. If IgE-mediated food allergy is suspected, a diet eliminating the candidate food allergen for 4~6 weeks is recommended. If patients responded to the elimination diet, an oral food challenge should be done to confirm the causal relationship of food intake and AD lesions. Consultation with a dietitian is recommended for advice on suitable avoidance and alternatives3, 27.

Wearing soft-textured clothing and avoiding rough-textured fabrics and tight garments are preferred42. Although wearing silk fabric may be helpful, it is not clear whether silk is superior to cotton43, 44. One recent meta-analysis failed to show the effectiveness of the use of functional textiles in AD treatment45. Another study indicated that residual laundry detergent in clothes is an aggravating factor of winter xerosis46. Water softening using an ion-exchange method provided no additional benefit to usual care47. There is a paucity of well-controlled studies about the effects of environmental modification on AD. General consensus recommendations include the avoidance of mechanical and chemical irritants (such as wool, acids, and bleaches) and organic solvents (such as formaldehyde and toluene).

Education and psychosocial support

Aggravation due to mental stress can be easily identified in AD patients, and minimizing such stress can be helpful in controlling the disease28, 48, 49, 50. Psychotherapeutic approaches and behavior therapy can be considered to manage individual emotional factors that trigger AD, such as viscous itch-scratch cycles, comorbidity with anxiety and depression, and low quality of life4, 51.

Patient and parent education is effective in the management of AD52, 53, 54, 55 and should aim to provide information about the clinical characteristics of AD (etiology, clinical manifestations, and disease course in layperson language), aggravating and relieving factors, self-management, and improving coping skills. Psychological and psychosomatic interventions are necessary and important tools of educational programs.

A multidisciplinary team (e.g., doctors, nurses, psychologists, and dieticians) approach is recommended (1a, A)56. There is evidence that a systematic educational program considering the factor of age substantially improves AD severity scores53. Workshops and educational sessions led by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional57, as well as live video or practicing interventions, can be beneficial to patients by improving their knowledge of AD and the use of bathing, skin clearing, and moisturizers and other topical treatments (2b, B)4. Recommendations are summarized in Table 4, 28, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55.

Table 4
Expert consensus recommendations for education and psychosocial support

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Moisturizer

AD patients have very dry skin and defective skin barrier function. Regular use of moisturizer is a basictherapy for the management of AD. Recommendations for moisturizer use are summarized in Table 5, 4, 5, 9, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67. Mild AD can be improved by the appropriate use of moisturizer. Moisturizer application should also be maintained in patients with moderate to severe AD, which also requires topical or systemic anti-inflammatory treatment during acute flares to induce remission58, 59. Data from RCTs show that moisturizers have a long- and short-term steroid-sparing effect in mild to moderate AD and in preventing AD flares60, 61, 62, 63. The antipruritic effect of certain moisturizers in the treatment of AD has also been proven in RCTs64. Some moisturizers have been found to restore a defective skin barrier while decreasing exposure to irritants and showing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects62, 65, 66. The Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention trial, a large-scale RCT on the effectiveness of intensive moisturizer therapy in early life to prevent AD and/or allergic reactions or reduce disease severity, is underway with encouraging results in a pilot study68, 69.

Table 5
Expert consensus recommendations for moisturizer use

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Although no clinical trials have studied the proper amount or frequency of moisturizer use in AD patients, moisturizer should be used at least twice daily, and more frequently during acute flare-ups. Adult patients with AD should use approximately 250 g or more of moisturizer per week4, 67 and apply it to their whole body, regardless of the presence of lesions, since barrier defects and subclinical inflammation may also be present on lesion-free skin. The recommendation is to use moisturizer after taking a bath while the skin is still moist (within 3 min). During acute flare-ups, moisturizer should be used more frequently in conjunction with anti-inflammatory treatment and continued as maintenance therapy4, 5, 9. Moisturizer treatment without the use of anti-inflammatory agents during acute flares may increase one's susceptibility to bacterial or viral infection70. Conventional moisturizers contain occlusives, humectants, and emulsions. Newer classes of emollients designed to restore skin barrier defects include distinct ratios of lipids that resemble physiological compositions, such as ceramides:cholesterol:essential fatty acids in the ratios of 3:1:1 or 1:1:1. Although these new moisturizers are used worldwide as prescribed devices for the treatment of AD, only a few studies have demonstrated the effects of moisturizer on skin barrier function recovery and symptoms and signs of AD in a randomized and controlled manner59, 62, 65.

A few moisturizer-containing substances with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory effects such as N-palmitoylethanolamine and sunflower seed oil have been developed, and some of them have been shown to lessen pruritus, xerosis, and inflammation and have steroid-sparing effects in a small number of controlled studies60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.

Various types of moisturizer are available as creams, ointments, oils, gels, or lotions. Ointment or oily cream-type moisturizers, rather than lotions, are suitable for AD patients. However, some patients may not like these formulas because they feel greasy. At bedtime, lotion or aqueous cream-type moisturizers are desirable. In winter, higher lipid contents are preferable.

Because moisturizers including proteinaceous antigens or haptens may induce an allergic reaction, it is not desirable to use them in children younger than 2 years71.

An over-the-counter moisturizer with a petrolatum-base was proven to be as effective as prescribed moisturizers in the treatment of children with mild to moderate AD in an RCT72, which suggests the cost-effectiveness of moisturizer treatment is a factor in selecting a moisturizer. Because adherence to moisturizer usage is key to the successful treatment of AD, patient preferences and tolerances should be considered when selecting a moisturizer to enhance adherence to the therapy.

Topical corticosteroids

Topical corticosteroids (TCSs) are important anti-inflammatory drugs for managing AD, especially during acute flares. TCS recommendations are summarized in Table 6, 4, 5, 64, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79. TCSs significantly improve AD lesions compared to placebo73, 74. Data from a meta-analysis of RCTs showed that TCSs are effective in the relief of AD pruritus63 (relative risk=0.66, p<0.001) and have a significant effect in reducing Staphylococcus colonization75.

Table 6
Expert consensus recommendations for TCSs

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TCSs are classified according to their potency (Table 7)76. Most TCSs are enough strong to be used only once daily77. The fingertip unit (FTU) is commonly suggested, as it has been found that the amount of TCS from the distal skin crease to the tip of an adult patient's index finger is equivalent to approximately 0.5 g TCS. Using 1 FTU of TCS, applying the amount on the surface area of the two palms of the patient is appropriate (Fig. 1)78.

Fig. 1
The fingertip unit (FTU) method is used in to determine the amount of topical corticosteroids (TCS) or calcineurin inhibitors to apply. The amount from the distal skin crease to the tip of an adult patient's index finger is equivalent to approximately 0.5 g TCS. 1 FTU generally covers the surface area of two palms.

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Table 7
The potency of topical corticosteroids

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Application of TCSs should be tapered if signs of inflammation disappear79. Proactive treatment with TCS therapy (e.g., once- or twice-weekly application) to areas known to commonly relapse in the maintenance period may help to reduce acute flares73, 74, 80. Schmitt et al.80 concluded in their systematic review that long-term (40-week) proactive therapy with TCS did not result in skin atrophy and telangiectasia or systemic side effects, such as adrenal suppression, and can be safely used during the AD maintenance period.

On skin with coexistent infections, TCSs have been widely used along with systemic or topical antibiotics. However, a review by Cochrane did not find any additional benefit from the concomitant use of antibiotics and TCS compared to the use of TCS alone for AD treatment81. Combination therapy with a topical calcineurin inhibitor (TCI) did not have a synergistic effect in one study82, but it did in others83, 84.

Local side effects of TCS include steroid acne, flushing, skin atrophy, hypertrichosis, striae, telangiectasia, and allergic contact dermatitis, which may occur occasionally in the treated area85; however, these side effects can be resolved with discontinuation or appropriate treatment. The risk of cataract or glaucoma development when TCS is applied to the periorbital area is uncertain. Systemic side effects are extremely rare, but they have been reported. Children have a greater chance of developing adrenal suppression, since they have a relatively greater body surface area-to-weight ratio and a higher systemic absorption. Routine screening tests for systemic side effects of TCSs are not required.

Potent TCSs can be used in the following amounts to avoid systemic and local side effects: 15 g/month in infants, 30 g/month in children, and 60~90 g/month in adults4. For infants and children, the elderly, or pregnant woman, mild to moderate TCSs can be used instead of more potent varieties of TCSs86.

For pregnant women, potent or very potent TCSs should be chosen as a second-line option for as short a time as possible, and relevant obstetric care is needed, as TCSs increase the possibility of fetal growth restriction. It has been proven that the use of ≤200 g TCSs during the pregnancy period is not associated with fetal growth restriction86.

A meta-analysis of RCTs recommended that superpotent TCSs be used only once daily, because this is as beneficial as twice-daily application87.

Steroid phobia is widespread and can cause treatment failure among AD patients. To increase treatment compliance, it is important to educate children and their parents about the side effects of TCSs and signs and symptoms of worsening eczema4, 5, 9.

Wet-wrap therapy

Wet-wrap therapy (WWT) can be helpful to quickly reduce AD severity, and it is often useful for acute flares and/or recalcitrant disease88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97. For better results and to reduce the risk of infection, WWT use must be based on proper education and can be administered on an outpatient or inpatient basis88, 94. A recent RCT demonstrated that a 4-week proactive schedule of WWT with diluted TCSs was superior to WWT with moisturizer in children with severe AD89. The first step of WWT is to apply topical agents to the lesion. Next, the skin is covered with a wet inner layer of tubular bandages followed by a dry outer layer. Gauze or a cotton suit can be used as an alternative. The WWT can be maintained from several hours to a day at a time (an illustration of how to use WWT can be found online at http://www.atopy.re.kr/academy/news_02.asp). Further RCTs and clinical studies are needed to determine the ideal topical agents to use as well as duration, covering agent, and frequency. WWT recommendations are summarized in Table 8, 87, 88, 93, 94.

Table 8
Expert consensus recommendations for WWT

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Topical calcineurin inhibitors

TCIs exert anti-inflammatory effects by blocking calcineurin-dependent T-cell activation, which leads to the release of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators of AD2. TCIs used to treat AD include pimecrolimus cream (1%) and tacrolimus ointment (0.03% in children and 0.1% in adults), which have been proven to help improve and control AD in both children and adults5, 98, 99. Recommendations for TCI use are summarized in Table 9, 4, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105.

Table 9
Expert consensus recommendations for TCIs

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A meta-analysis showed that tacrolimus 0.1% and midpotency TCS hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% are comparable in the efficacy, whereas the efficacy of tacrolimus 0.03% is inferior to hydrocortisone butyrate 0.1% but superior to low-potency TCS hydrocortisone acetate 1%98. Pimecrolimus cream has been considered less efficacious than midto high-potency TCS, although there are no studies comparing pimecrolimus and TCS3. Tacrolimus is approved for the treatment of moderate to severe AD, and pimecrolimus is approved for mild to moderate AD5, 99.

Korean dermatologists strongly recommend the use of TCIs for both active and proactive treatment of AD. The 2012 European guidelines recommend TCIs as a first-line therapy in the short- and long-term treatment of AD5. Proactive therapy with tacrolimus ointment could reduce the frequency of relapse4. The 2013 Asian-Pacific guidelines recommend TCIs as a second-line therapy for both acute AD and long-term proactive treatment. The 2014 American guidelines also recommend the use of TCIs for the active and proactive treatment of AD2.

In a proactive regimen, TCI application 2 to 3 times a week on frequent recurrent sites can effectively reduce relapses4. After the acute flare is controlled, long-term management with topical tacrolimus significantly decreased the number of episodes compared with vehicle and increased the time to relapse and number of flare-free days100, 101. The efficacy and safety of topical tacrolimus 0.1% use for 6 month to 5 years is well documented in children with moderate to severe AD5. In adults with mild to moderate AD, pimecrolimus cream 1.0% also reduced the occurrence of flares102.

TCI has no risk of cutaneous atrophy, and it has few harmful effects on collagen synthesis103, 104. This favors the use of TCIs over TCS in thin-skinned areas such as the eyelid, perioral region, genitalia, axillary area, or inguinal fold, as well as for long-term management. TCI has steroid-sparing effects and that can be maintained during long-term use (up to 12 months)2, 106.

The most common local side effects of TCIs are stinging and burning sensations. Irritation is seen more frequently with TCIs than with TCSs but tends to decrease with repeated applications or when patients are shortly pretreated with TCSs107, 108. Physicians should provide this information to patients when TCIs are first prescribed to prevent premature discontinuation of TCIs. Infections with virus such as herpes simplex, eczema herpeticum, or molluscum contagiosum have been reported during TCI use109, 110, 111, but these studies failed to prove a causal relationship106, 112.

Topical tacrolimus and pimecrolimus have been approved for adults and children older than 2 years5, 109. However, topical tacrolimus 0.03% and pimecrolimus can be safely used in children younger than 2 years, even in infants105.

There are several case reports of lymphoma and skin cancer in patients treated with TCIs. However, there is currently no scientific evidence of an increased risk of malignancy due to TCI use113.

Routine blood monitoring of tacrolimus or pimecrolimus levels is not needed in AD patients, as systemic absorption after topical application of both TCIs is negligible114, 115.

Topical antipruritic agents

Other topical anti-inflammatory agents