ATOPIC DERMATITIS AND TOPICAL APPLICATION OF HUMAN BREAST MILK

Atopic eczema is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease with disfiguring and intensely itchy rashes caused by complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. It has a significant psychosocial impact and negatively influences the quality of life of patients. Various therapies exist to better control the inflammatory lesions of atopic dermatitis because this disease is incurable. However although these treatments are effective and safe they are often accompanied by side effects and in most cases are not recommended for children under 2 years of age. There was therefore a need to find a therapy that was easily accessible in developing countries and free of side effects. It is in this context that we conducted a retrospective systematic review of the literature to compare the efficacy of topical application of human breast milk to that of 1% hydrocortisone in the management of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis in children under 2 years of age.