Treatment of refractory cases of atopic dermatitis with acidic hot-spring bathing

Authors: Kubota K (1) , Machida I , Tamura K , Take H , Kurabayashi H , Akiba T , Tamura J
Affiliations:
(1) Department of Medicine, Kusatsu Branch Hospital, Gunma University School of Medicine
Source: Acta Derm Venereol. 1997 Nov;77(6):452-4
DOI: Not specified Publication date: 1997 Nov E-Publication date: Not specified Availability: abstract Copyright: Not specified
Language: English Countries: Japan Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Not specified

Keywords

Article abstract

The incidence of refractory atopic dermatitis has increased in teenagers and young adults. The purpose of this study was to control the skin symptoms of such patients in daily life. Seventy patients repeatedly took a 10-min 42 degrees C acidic hot-spring bath twice daily. The skin symptoms were improved in 76% of cases. In 30 of 42 responders examined Staphylococcus aureus, detected on the skin surface, disappeared or decreased through balneotherapy. In contrast, S. aureus remained unchanged in 8 of 10 non-responders examined. Thus, the balneotherapy using acidic hot-spring water may be useful for controlling the skin symptoms of acute flares of refractory cases of atopic dermatitis.

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