RHODES, GREECE — Lactamide monoethanolamine, a lactic acid-derived humectant commonly found in over-the-counter lotions and bath gels, appears to be beneficial for the treatment of cradle cap, Virginie Ribet, Ph.D., said at the 15th Congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
A lactamide monoethanolamine-based gel was safe, effective, and well tolerated in a randomized, controlled, open-label phase III study of 124 infants with mild to moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp, Dr. Ribet of Pierre Fabre Research Institute in Ramonville Saint Agne, France, reported in a poster presentation.
Lesional scores, which were based on the area of involvement and intensity of scaling on four zones of the scalp, decreased significantly more in the 63 infants in the treatment group, compared with the 61 infants in the control group, at day 7 (55% vs. 42%), day 21 (81% vs. 70%), and day 42 (96% vs. 86%).
A lesional score of 0 was noted in 73% of infants in the treatment group at the end of the study, compared with 50% of those in the control group, said Dr. Ribet who did not disclose interest in the gel.
Parents of the 63 infants in the treatment group were asked to apply the gel, followed by a soft shampoo, daily for the first week, then two to three times per week thereafter for the course of the study. Only soft shampoo was applied to the 61 infants in the control group.
The gel was safe and well tolerated in both groups. Erythema was significantly improved from baseline to study end in both groups.
Both the investigators and the parents reported satisfaction on overall assessment; the product led to recovery or definite improvement in all treated infants, she noted.