Response from BAD member Dr Carsten Flohr:

This is an important and welcome study in terms of improving our understanding of effective treatments for eczema. Previously, guidelines advised the use of bath emollients for the treatment of children. These can now be amended to reflect this new evidence, saving time, effort, and money for patients, their families and for the NHS; resources that can be invested more effectively into other aspects of eczema treatment and research.

However, it is probably too early to say that bath emollients have absolutely no role in the management of eczema. For instance, children under 1 year of age were not included in the study, an age group that has a particularly high burden of eczema. The study also excluded preparations with antiseptic properties, and these might still have a part to play in children with recurrent skin infections. The trial also did not assess the optimal regimen for leave-on treatments, soap substitutes, and frequency of bathing or washing in children with eczema, so there is still room for important further eczema research.