When do you recommend the use of wet wrap therapy for patients with atopic dermatitis experiencing a flare?
Assistant Professor, Director of Center for Eczema and Itch
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Wet wrap therapy is what I like to think of as an oldie but a goodie, something that we all learn about as residents and have in our armamentarium, but not something we're necessarily whipping out for every patient just because it can be kind of cumbersome, particularly at home. So I find wet wrap therapy being particularly effective if you're really in need fast control of highly acute, very severe atopic dermatitis, especially for somebody that may be a good candidate for a systemic therapy, but you just know that you're not gonna be able to get them on that therapy in time. So one way in which I use acute wet wrap therapy quite a bit is patients who end up being hospitalized for a day or two. A lot of people just don't have the actual wherewithal and ability to be able to do wet and dry and wraps and changes, it's a whole messy process, at home, so the hospital setting can be a place where you can ensure somebody is having appropriate wrap therapy to really cool down that atopic dermatitis flare and hopefully buy you some time to actually get that systemic therapy on board that you're looking for.
Summary
In the video, Dr. Raj Chovatiya discusses the use of wet wrap therapy for patients with atopic dermatitis experiencing a flare. He describes wet wrap therapy as an effective approach for achieving fast control of highly acute, severe atopic dermatitis. Wet wrap therapy involves wrapping the affected areas in wet bandages, which helps to cool down the skin and provide relief.
Dr. Chovatiya mentions that wet wrap therapy is particularly useful for patients who require urgent control of their atopic dermatitis but may not be able to start systemic therapy immediately. It can be used in cases where a patient is a good candidate for systemic therapy but cannot receive it promptly. For example, patients who end up being hospitalized for a day or two due to the severity of their condition can benefit from wet wrap therapy during their hospital stay.
While wet wrap therapy is an effective option, Dr. Chovatiya acknowledges that it can be cumbersome for patients to manage at home. Therefore, its use may be more practical and achievable in a hospital setting, where healthcare professionals can ensure appropriate application and changes of the wet wraps.
Overall, wet wrap therapy is considered a valuable approach for rapidly managing acute, severe atopic dermatitis, especially when systemic therapy may not be immediately accessible.
Key Points
- Wet wrap therapy is recommended for patients with atopic dermatitis experiencing a flare.
- It is particularly effective when fast control of highly acute, very severe atopic dermatitis is needed.
- Wet wrap therapy is not used for every patient because it can be cumbersome, especially at home.
- It can be beneficial for patients who may be good candidates for systemic therapy but cannot start it immediately.