Reduction of Staphylococcus aureus in atopic skin lesions with acid electrolytic water - a new therapeutic strategy for atopic dermatitis

The subjects studied were 22 pediatric patients newly diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD); 11 were treated with acid electrolytic water (AEW), which has a strong bactericidal activity (AEW group), and the other 11 with tap water (placebo group). AEW or tap water, 1 ml/cm² (body surface area), was sprayed on their skin lesions with a spray gun each twice a day for a week. There were no significant differences between the two groups in regard to sex, age, serum IgE, peripheral eosinophil counts, grading scores of AD, and duration of AD. The study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Colony counts of Staphylococcus aureus on skin lesions in the AEW group, both 3 min after spraying ( P < 0.05) and after 1 week of skin treatment ( P < 0.01), were significantly decreased as compared with colony counts before treatment, while there was no significant difference in the placebo group before and after treatment. Grading scores of AD also decreased in the AEW group ( P <0.01), but not in the placebo group. Both the subjects' guardians' evaluation and a referee physician's evaluation of treatment effect were significantly higher in the AEW group than in the placebo group ( P < 0.01). AEW may be potentially effective in preventing a staphylococcal chronic inflammation in AD because of its strong bactericidal activity.