Retinol palmitate: potential applications in combination therapy of patients with chronic eczema

BACKGROUND: The chronic stage of eczema is characterized by marked impairment of the skin barrier function, necessitating prolonged multimodal therapy. In cases of pronounced infiltration, lichenification, and resistance to standard treatment, positive effects of incorporating retinoids into therapeutic regimens for this condition have been reported. AIM: The work aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral oily retinol palmitate solution as part of combination therapy in patients with chronic eczema. METHODS: The study included 60 patients with mild-to-moderate chronic eczema who were divided into two groups of 30 patients each (main group and comparison group) according to the treatment received. Therapy in both groups comprised topical calcineurin inhibitors, zinc pyrithione, 10% naftalan oil liniment, and an emollient containing 10% urea. Patients in the main group additionally received oral retinol palmitate solution. Treatment efficacy was assessed based on changes in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and the number of disease exacerbations recorded before treatment and on days 30, 60, and 90 of therapy. RESULTS: By day 30 of treatment, patients in both groups demonstrated significant improvement in skin manifestations (p ≤0.05). However, symptom regression was more pronounced in the main group, where EASI scores decreased by 77.0%, compared with a 58.1% reduction in the comparison group (p ≤0.05). The marked clinical improvement was accompanied by a reduction in disease-related quality-of-life impairment: DLQI scores decreased by 53.1% in the main group and by 39.4% in the comparison group (p ≤0.05). During subsequent follow-up, the positive trends of disease symptoms persisted, although no significant differences between the groups were observed. CONCLUSION: The addition of oral oily retinol palmitate solution to combination therapy for patients with chronic eczema is associated with accelerated regression of clinical symptoms and improved quality of life. At the same time, topical therapy including calcineurin inhibitors, zinc pyrithione, 10% naftalan oil liniment, and an emollient containing 10% urea demonstrates sustained efficacy throughout the treatment course.