Eight TSW doctors have released the new study paper on the progression and improvement rate of atopic dermatitis (AD) without steroids. It was conducted last year (here) and the results are finally in!
The improvement rate was shown in three age categories: under 2 yrs old (infants), 2 - 11 yrs old (children) and 12 yrs old + (adults). Each rate was compared to the study by Dr. Furue et al in 2003, which shows the improvement rate of atopic dermatitis with steroids.
It has to be taken into account the fact that two studies were conducted at a different time & place, by different raters. Yet, the data and what they indicate are very interesting.
Read the full study paper here.
If you just want to look at the numbers, Dr. Sato has shared us the power point document for that.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xd1dlzcdnlvkdyw/translated_comparison.pptx?dl=0
In a nutshell, the results look like this:
Just for your information, Dr. Furue (one of the authors of the study with steroids) is the main author of Japan's AD treatment guideline, which sets topical steroids as the first choice for AD treatments in the country.
TSW doctors have been requesting for ages to change this guideline to give patients a choice of non-steroids treatments. Unfortunately, the recent revision of the guideline did not acknowledge this (more details here) in spite of their clinical reasoning and 16,112 signatures from patients, doctors, parents and families, not to mention the growing TSW communities worldwide.
The study paper ends by referring to negligence. A mother was rejected for a consultation by a dermatologist because she refused to use topical steroids on her baby, and accused of negligence. The authors believe that it is such dermatologist's attitude which is negligence. Sadly, from my own experience this type of dermatologists is common in Japan. "No steroids, no medical help", how unprofessional.
I hope many people have a look at the study paper and learn that there are a number of cases where topical steroids are unnecessary to treat AD.
Last but not least, I thank the doctors who contributed their fund, time and efforts for this insightful study!
Thank you very much, Tommy, for sharing this important information! Hope you're doing very well!
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