JAMA Dermatol

Daily emollient use modestly reduces eczema risk in infants

July 25, 2025

In a general infant population, initiating daily emollient use before 9 weeks of age reduced atopic dermatitis incidence by age 2, supporting a practical, preventive approach to pediatric skin care.

Study details. The Community-based Assessment of Skin Care, Allergies, and Eczema (CASCADE) trial (NCT03409367) enrolled 1,247 infant-parent dyads from 25 community clinics to assess whether daily emollient use from 9 weeks to 24 months could prevent atopic dermatitis (AD). Infants were randomized to either daily full-body moisturizer or standard care (no emollient use).

Results. By 24 months, the cumulative incidence of physician-diagnosed AD was 36.1% in the emollient group vs. 43.0% in the control group, yielding a relative risk (RR) of 0.84 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.73–0.97; P=.02). The protective effect was more pronounced in infants not at high risk for AD (RR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.90; P=.01) and in the presence of a dog in the home (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.90).

Source:

Simpson EL, et al; CASCADE Consortium. (2025, July 23). JAMA Dermatol. Emollients to Prevent Pediatric Eczema: A Randomized Clinical Trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40699587/