BACKGROUND: The high rates of atopic dermatitis among children, treatment failures and treatment costs have created the search for new therapies to control flares of atopic dermatitis. OBJECTIVES: We compared the efficacy and safety of topical essential oil (German Chamomile) versus topical steroids (hydrocortisone 1%) in controlling flares of atopic dermatitis. METHOD: We randomly selected 60 children diagnosed of AD or children that qualified to the criteria of AD. They we’re randomly grouped into three. Twenty for Essential Oil (EO) group, twenty for Steroid group (SG) and Twenty for placebo (distilled water) group. They were advised to apply medicine kept in uniform brown plastic bottles 3x a day for 4 weeks. Data were recorded weekly using the EASI (Eczema Score Index) scoring. Other topical medications such as emollients and moisturizers were continued. RESULTS: At week 4 control of flaring was achieved; 42% for EO group and 55% for steroid group. The differences in treatment effects were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Essential oil was comparable in cure rate to mild topical steroid. Essential oil can be safe and affordable. However further study in a wider scale is recommended.
Eczema

BACKGROUND

Acne patients often use medications, either over the counter or prescribed by dermatologists, to manage their condition. Dermatologists frequently include sunscreens as part of these treatment plans alongside acne medications. This research aims to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding sunscreen use among respondents who are confirmed acne patients and have been prescribed sunscre-en as part of their treatment regimen.

OBJECTIVE

This research examines the current knowledge, attitudes, and practices of acne patients regarding sunscreen use as part of their acne t reatment regimen, considering demographic factors. The knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the respondents will be compared across different age groups, genders, and employment statuses.

METHODS

This study purposefully collected data from patients with active acne on the use of sunscreens alongside acne medications. The sample included males and females aged 18-27, 28-40, and 40+ residing in either the National Capital Region or the CALABARZON Region, with 105 respondents in each group. Data was gathered using a validated Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) questionnaire, consisting of 30 questions that had undergone reliability testing via Cronbach's alpha. Responses were recorded on a 3-point Likert scale to model the interaction of KAP variables. The research material was distributed through Google Forms in June 2024. Data analysis was conducted using R, specifically the psych package, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied to compare groups, determining if significant differences existed among them. This test was incorporated within RStudio.

RESULTS

Findings indicated that respondents generally demonstrated a high level of understanding regarding the importance of sunscreen when used alongside acne treatments, particularly acknowledging its role in preventing acne scarring and reducing skin sensitivity caused by treatment products. Additionally, attitudes toward sunscreen use were largely positive, with respondents rejecting common misconceptions about sunscreen. However, actual sunscreen application practices were moderate, with adherence levels varying across the sample. Significant differences in sunscreen use were observed based on employment status, gender, and age.

CONCLUSION

Acne patients in this study had a high level of knowledge and a positive attitude on the use of sunscreen together with their acne medications. consistency in sunscreen application was moderate. unemployed respondents were more receptive to external influences regarding sunscreen use. Female respondents were more informed and proactive than male respondents. Younger respondents were more influenced by social networks. This research highlights the need for continued education on the benefits of sunscreen use to be able to achieve an effective acne vulgaris management.

Human ; Knowledge ; Attitude ; Acne Vulgaris ; Sunscreen ; Sunscreening Agents