London, Feb 20 (TIWN) Researchers have found that using daily moisturisers on newborn babies cannot prevent eczema as previously thought.

Eczema is a very common skin problem affecting around one in five children in the UK. It usually starts in infancy, and a generally dry skin is often one of the first symptoms in babies who go on to develop the condition.  “Much progress has been made in recent years on the treatment of severe eczema, but the goal of preventing eczema from developing in the first place remains elusive,” said study lead author Hywel Williams from University of Nottingham in the UK.  According to the researchers, it is thought that a faulty skin barrier could be the first step in the development of eczema. Moisturisers improve skin barrier function by providing a covering to the outermost layer of skin and trapping in water.  Some healthcare workers recommend that parents regularly use moisturisers to prevent eczema in newborn babies.  The aim of the Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention (BEEP) study was to determine whether such advice had any impact on preventing the development of eczema.  For the findings, published in the journal The Lancet, the research team looked at 1394 newborn babies who were born to families with eczema, asthma or hayfever.