Taking a bath using emollients to help ease painful eczema symptoms may not actually work, a new study claims.
Researchers writing in Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin analysed the amount of money the NHS currently spends on emollients per year, finding that the £16 million bill for bath products may be both a waste of money and a waste of time for eczema sufferers.
Instead scientists suggest that topical application of emollients could be a better and cheaper option for many.
Although they say there is limited evidence to show whether the bathing in emollients or applying them directly to the skin work, they stated: "long clinical experience has suggested that emollients applied directly to the skin are effective and safe".
Meanwhile, the National Eczema Society has criticised the report for "trivialising the potential benefits of bathing", claiming that there is "extensive evidence" from patients that bath oils are also useful.
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