Effectiveness of Three Types of Moisturizers on Senile Dry Skin: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND: For dry skin, the application of a hypoallergenic moisturizer twice daily is recommended in elderly individuals. However, it is not known which is the most effective and appropriate moisturizer among the commercially available moisturizers. AIMS: In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of the three widely used moisturizers for the treatment of senile dry skin. Patients/Methods. This interventional study involved elderly individuals aged >65 years who were living in a nursing home. The participants were randomly divided into the interventional (moisturizers A, B, and C) and conventional care groups. Moisturizers A, B, and C were applied on the skin of each member of the three intervention groups twice daily for 8 weeks. The water content of the stratum corneum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were evaluated before and after the intervention. Changes in these parameters among the groups were compared using two-way analysis of variance and a posthoc test. RESULTS: Moisturizers A, B, and C and conventional care groups comprised six, seven, five, and four participants, respectively. The water content of the stratum corneum was significantly higher in the moisturizer A (p = 0.01) and B (p = 0.047) groups than in the conventional care group. There was no significant difference in TEWL among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: In terms of the appearance of the skin, white powder and small scales were both reduced in group A. Taken together with the water content, this was considered a clinically significant change.