Effect of emollients on the prevention of infantile eczema and atopic dermatitis

INTERVENTION: Proactive treatment with emollients (emollient is regularly applied to the whole surface of baby's skin at least once a day) Reactive treatment with emollients (emollient is used only when the parents consider the baby's skin dry) CONDITION: atopic dermatitis, allergic sensitization PRIMARY OUTCOME: The original description in the English version was incorrectly translated. The original description of primary outcome measure in Japanese (the left column) should have been translated as "cumulative rate of incidence of atopic dermatitis and/or eczema by temporal observation". SECONDARY OUTCOME: a) specific IgE antibodies; b) transepidermal water loss(TEWL); c) stratum corneum water concentration; d) stratum corneum pH; e) Staphylococcus aureus on skin; f) Onset of allergic diseases such as asthma and food allergy INCLUSION CRITERIA: (1) Infants within the first week after birth (2) High risk infants from atopic dermatitis (family history) (3) Infants without treatment with corticosteroids (4) Infants whose parents gave informed consent