Epifibroin Powder 0039 for the Treatment of Seborrhoeic Dermatitis

Abstract

Daisy Kopera

Background: Seborrhoeic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a high recurrence rate. This skin disease is usually treated topically with either antimycotics or corticosteroids, which temporarily lead to an improvement. In all known options discontinuation of the treatment leads to recurrence of the symptoms. For other chronic inflammatory dermatoses a silk-fibroin with AEM5772 / 5 antimicrobial has shown positive effects.

Objective: In a pilot study the therapeutic impact of a powder consisting of this fibroin (Epifibroin Powder 0039) on seborrheic skin lesions was compared with the effect of topical antimycotics and corticosteroids.

Materials and Methods: 20 patients with recurrent chronic seborrhoeic dermatitis applied Epifibroin Powder 0039, methylprednisolone 0.1% cream and ketoconazole 2% cream in scalp/ facial region for 1 week each. Therapy- free breaks were mandatory between the individual cycles. Standardized photo documentation was performed before and after each treatment period. Subject satisfaction was assessed on the basis of a questionnaire with regard to all three therapy options, treatment outcome was classified into 3 categories of improvement: moderate, mild, and no improvement.

Results: Evaluation of the results showed that all three treatment options including Epifibroin Powder 0039 lead to comparable results. None of these options achieved sustainable clearance of the lesions.

Discussion: In summary Epifibroin Powder 0039 had about the same efficacy as methylprednisolone 1% cream and ketoconazole 2% cream in the treatment of SD without statistical significance. However, Epifibroin Powder 0039 could be of great benefit for the treatment of SD. Unlike corticosteroids or antimycotics, Epifibroin Powder 0039 has no known side effects. This is the first clinical trial on the safety and effectiveness of Epifibroin Powder 0039 for the treatment of seborrheic dermatitis.

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