Clinical Benefits of Basic Emollient Therapy for the Management of Patients With Xerosis Cutis.

Xerosis cutis refers to dry skin that may be caused or exacerbated by external triggers (e.g., cold weather), endogenous factors (e.g., aging), or present as a symptom of other diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis). Emollients are topical products formulated to rehydrate and restore the barrier function of the skin and are consistently recommended for the management of xerosis cutis and related diseases. Following the previous articles in this supplement, the present article aims to review the wider spectrum of clinical benefits associated with emollient therapy for xerosis cutis and diseases associated with dry skin. In clinical studies, the biophysical effects of emollients are often demonstrated using instrumental measures of skin hydration and barrier function, as well as clinical scoring systems that grade xerosis severity. In addition to these objective measures, the effectiveness of emollients has also been assessed by evaluating changes in subjective symptoms and patient-reported quality of life. Other reported benefits of emollient therapy for atopic dermatitis include delaying and preventing flares and reducing topical corticosteroid use. Although the current body of literature demonstrates the wide range of clinical benefits of emollient therapy for xerosis cutis, they also highlight a high degree of heterogeneity across clinical studies, a need for consensus outcome measures that facilitate direct comparisons between formulations, and a need to establish treatment targets for emollient therapy in clinical practice. Nevertheless, available evidence indicates that emollients demonstrate a favorable risk-benefit profile overall and should continue to be the mainstay of basic therapy for people with xerosis cutis and diseases associated with dry skin.