BATHE in the News!

NHS England has launched a public consultation on reducing prescribing. They refer to BATHE but we do not completely agree with their recommendations. The BATHE study showed that emollient bath additives poured directly into the bath water do not help when used in addition to other eczema treatments. However, the study did not compare different ways of using emollients as soap substitutes. Some families may use emollient bath additives as soap substitute. As there is no evidence on the best product to use as soap substitutes, we believe that prescribers should continue to offer patients with eczema a choice of emollient products as soap substitutes.

We have written to NHS England to explain what our study does and doesn’t show. The letter can be seen on the ‘useful downloads’ section at the bottom of the ‘researchers and clinicians’ tab. To read the NHSE consultation document click here .