| Patients with Atopic Dermatitis, or eczema as | | | | skin conditions and feelings about their shirt in a |
| most people know it, have been encouraged for | | | | journal. At the end of the second week, the |
| years to only wear cotton fabric next to their | | | | dermatologist performed a second evaluation on |
| skin to help with irritation. | | | | the patients, comparing the results to the base |
| Cotton absorbs moisture and creates less friction | | | | she had developed at the end of the first week. |
| against the skin than fabrics as we have known | | | | Dr. Draelos concluded that; The study |
| them, making it the best fabric for people with | | | | demonstrated statistically significant improvement |
| irritating skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. | | | | in skin condition and decreased itching in subjects |
| The innovation may have many positive points, it | | | | with eczema, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis when |
| also has major drawbacks. | | | | wearing a [DermaSmart] shirt. |
| Recent developments may be giving cotton a run | | | | In the second study, another two week study |
| for its money, though. Milliken & Company has | | | | and composed of 40 participants, the participants |
| recently opened the market on its new fabric, | | | | were given a t-shirt and pajamas each and |
| Dermasmart. This fabric is reducing itching, peeling, | | | | instructed to wear each garment for four hours |
| scaling, and the appearance of dryness. Studies | | | | each day. One half received 100% cotton |
| have shown the fabric to be preferable to cotton | | | | garments while the other half received |
| with most of the study participants. | | | | dermasmart garments. Patients kept thoughts |
| This silky, lightweight fabric reduces itching, | | | | about the garment and skin conditions in a journal; |
| absorbs moisture 40% faster than cotton, and | | | | they were evaluated for a baseline at the end of |
| dries in half the time that cotton does. It is | | | | the week. In phase two, the patients who had |
| treated with a silver microbiobial agent, but it | | | | worn cotton the first week were given |
| contains no formaldehyde or dyes and it will not | | | | dermasmart garments and visa versa. Again they |
| shrink when laundered. The fabric is washable, will | | | | chronicled skin conditions and thoughts about the |
| not shrink, allows better air flow, and has less | | | | garments in a journal and were evaluated at the |
| friction than cotton. | | | | end of the second week. |
| The Studies | | | | These studies found that 75% of the patients |
| The first study was done using a short sleeved | | | | had reduced itching with the dermasmart |
| shirt on patients who had active skin disease | | | | garments, almost 66% reported less moisture on |
| symptoms on their torso so that the shirt would | | | | their skin, and 77% preferred the feel of the |
| be directly on the irritated skin. For one week, the | | | | dermasmart over that of cotton. |
| participants wore a 100% cotton shirt and | | | | While these studies and the fabrics integral |
| documented changes in skin condition in a daily | | | | qualities seem to show superiority over cotton, |
| journal. They were also required to make notes | | | | the fabric has drawbacks in availability and price. |
| about their thoughts on the shirt. At the end of | | | | With cotton, people with chronic skin conditions |
| the week, the doctor evaluated each patient, | | | | can walk into any clothing store and purchase |
| creating a base of comparison for the second | | | | 100% cotton clothing, they have to order the |
| week of the study. During the second week, half | | | | dermasmart garments without even seeing them |
| of the participants wore a shirt made with the | | | | in person, which means they cannot try them on. |
| dermasmart fabric and the other half wore shirts | | | | Also, we only found one place to buy the |
| made of a different fabric. Again, they chronicled | | | | dermasmart garments. |