Application of Medical Moisture Retention Cream (ALHYDRAN®), A New Option in the Treatment of Venous Eczema

Aim: Patients with venous eczema may suffer considerably from redness, crusts, pain, flaking and itching. Ingeneral, as treatment, compression therapy and indifferent ointments/crèmes are used, often together with topicalsteroids, though the latter may exhibit considerable side effects. This study aims to explore the effect of MedicalMoisture Retention Cream (MMRC = ALHYDRAN®) on the symptoms and complaints of patients suffering a venouseczema, often next to an existing VLU. The working mechanism of MMRC involves a combination of the moisturizingeffect of Aloe Vera gel and the moderate occlusion effect of added fatty acids.
Method: In an open case series, 18 patients attending an outpatient wound clinic with moderate venous eczema(maximum TIS score<3) participated. MMRC was applied twice a day and its use was clinically assessed for 4consecutive weeks. Next to the registration of patient characteristics and capturing the clinical details of the skinlesions in weekly pictures, a VAS scale to assess the patients’ and caregivers’ experience with the treatment wasused.
Results: During the application of MMRC, the signs and symptoms of a dry, itchy, scaly, crusty and erythematousskin, fainted in all patients. The skin condition of most participating patients improved and there was also a visiblybetter skin hydration status in all patients. Relevant aspects such as ‘night rest’, ‘mood’ and ‘social participation’improved, except for 2 patients. The clinical skin condition of one of these deteriorated in a week, which was notrelated to the use of MMRC. No side effects to the use of MMRC were observed. The wound care experiencednurses assessed MMRC as effective and feasible.
Conclusion: This study shows that MMRC is effective, safe, and feasible in the treatment of venous eczema.Future Randomized Controlled Trials are necessary to compare the efficacy and feasibility of MMRC