- Design
- Single-centre randomised controlled trial
- Population
- 35 surgical nurses
- Primary outcome
- Transepidermal water loss, hydration, skin pH and dry-skin score at 7 days
- Effect
- Lower water loss and better hydration and dryness scores with emulsion; numerical estimates not reported in abstract
A single-centre randomised trial assigned 35 surgical nurses to a ceramide-based lamellar emulsion twice daily for seven days (18) or usual care (17).
Transepidermal water loss fell in the emulsion group from the first day and stayed below the control group. Hydration and dry-skin scores improved with the emulsion, with little change in controls.
The trial is small and short, used barrier measurements rather than clinical dermatitis as its outcome, and was not blinded. The abstract does not report effect sizes.
It nonetheless supports a simple step for staff whose hands are washed and gloved repeatedly: a routine moisturiser built into the working day.
- Recommend regular moisturiser use to staff with frequent hand hygiene.
- Ask about hand dryness and fissuring at occupational health reviews.
- Choose fragrance-free products to reduce sensitisation risk.
- Consider patch testing when occupational hand dermatitis persists despite emollients.
Why it matters
Barrier damage from repeated hand hygiene is a modifiable cause of occupational dermatitis in healthcare workers.
Don't overread it
Thirty-five nurses over one week, measured by barrier markers, cannot show fewer cases of hand dermatitis.
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