For a study, cotton and silk have long been suggested for atopic dermatitis sufferers because of their purported comfort. New synthetic materials with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, moisture-wicking, and calming qualities might have helped the atopic patients control their symptoms more effectively. Researchers examined existing and emerging evidence for fabric selection in atopic dermatitis patients, including cotton, wool, lyocell, silk, anionic, cellulosic/cellulose based, zinc oxide coated, citric acid-coated, chitosan-coated, silver coated, borage seed oil-coated, ethylene-vinyl, and polyurethane, and made practical clothing and bedding recommendations.
A comprehensive search of the databases between January 1, 1994, and January 1, 2020, was done. The following inclusion criteria were used to select studies: clinical trial, English publication, and fabric as the primary agent under investigation. Case reports, case series, abstracts from conferences, reviews, animal studies, and duplicates were all removed. The effects of textiles in patients with atopic dermatitis were then manually screened by title, abstract, and full-text publications, and studies that precisely described the effects of fabrics in patients with atopic dermatitis were chosen. Patient studies on both adults and children were included.
Modern fabric production and processing procedures that resulted in the smaller diameter, smoother fibers such as super- and ultrafine merino wool and anti-microbial treatments appeared to have an advantage. Traditional cotton and silk materials had varied results in terms of alleviating atopic dermatitis symptoms and severity, but they were typically harmless. Wool with a larger diameter was demonstrated to cause itching and irritation; ultra- or superfine merino wool, on the other hand, is non-pruritic and may be advised as an alternative. Silver-coated, chitosan-coated, and cellulose-based textiles were among the new materials with the potential to reduce atopic dermatitis severity and Staphylococcus aureus burden. There was insufficient data for zinc oxide-coated, acid-coated, polyurethane-coated, borage seed oil-coated, anionic, lyocell, and ethylene-vinyl textiles, and further research was needed before judgments can be drawn. Atopic dermatitis symptoms and exacerbations can be reduced by choosing the right fabric.
Reference:link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40257-020-00516-0