Moisturization and Skin Hydration Study

December 3, 2025 updated by: Wingfield Rehmus, University of British Columbia

Understanding the Effect of Pre-Drying Moisturization on Skin Hydration

Skin moisturization is important for patients with atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema. Moisturizing right after bathing is widely accepted as the best method to keep skin hydrated. However, there is conflicting research on the timing of moisturizing. The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate the preference of moisturizing while showering/bathing compared to after towel drying in adolescents aged 12-18 with eczema. The main question it aims to answer are:

  • Which moisturization technique is preferred: while showering/bathing or after towel drying?
  • How do these techniques affect investigator-assessed eczema severity, patient-reported itch scores, and objective skin hydration measurements?

Researchers will compare applying moisturizer while in the shower/bath to after towel drying and to which technique is preferred among participants and if there are different effects on eczema and skin hydration.

Participants will:

  • Apply moisturizer while showering/bathing for one month and after towel drying for one month.
  • Complete questionnaires on moisturization technique, skin feel, and itchiness.
  • Undergo skin hydration measurements using a Corneometer® CM825 device.

Study Overview

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

    • British Columbia
      • Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
        • BC Children's Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Participants must have a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis/eczema.
  • Participants must be between the age of 12-18.
  • Participants must be able to bathe independently.
  • Participants will be English speaking and able to complete questionnaires.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participants who use topical corticosteroids between one inch above the wrist and 1 inch below the elbow from 1 month on both arms prior to the study until the final visit.
  • Participants who have a known allergy to the moisturizer cream (Cerave Moisturizing Cream) provided.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Moisturizing while in shower/bath
Applying moisturizer in the shower/bath.
Experimental: Moisturizing after towel drying
Applying moisturizer out of the shower/bath after towel drying.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of Participants Preferring Each Moisturization Technique
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
Participant reported preference of moisturization technique
Through study completion, an average of 2 months.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Skin Hydration Level
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
Skin electrical capacitance measured using Corneometer® CM825 as an indicator of skin hydration.
Through study completion, an average of 2 months.

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Eczema Severity Score
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
Eczema severity will be assessed by clinicians using the Validated Investigator Global Assessment Scale for Atopic Dermatitis (vIGA-AD™). Scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating more severe eczema/atopic dermatitis (worse outcome).
Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
Itch Intensity
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 2 months.
Itch intensity will be assessed using a patient-reported Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 1 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater itch severity (worse outcome). Participants will report both average itch and worst itch experienced within the past 24 hours.
Through study completion, an average of 2 months.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Collaborators

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

December 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 21, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 3, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

December 8, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 8, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 3, 2025

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared, but aggregated data from all participants will be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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