domeboro

Domeboro (Burow's Solution)

Domeboro is an excellent preparation of long standing that helps with itchy flares, and dries out vesicles. It is available OTC in drug stores. The packets are better than the pills, in my view. The best recipe I have seen is to have them dissolved into ice water and apply via a wrung-out, wet but not drippy rag, glove or sock, for about 20 minutes, twice daily. It's not supposed to be used for more than a week, however, and not on badly broken skin. The Bayer company web page below has more information.

www.bayercare.com/htm/domefaq.htm

I have come across another recipe in the medical literature that illustrates well the careless nature of dermatological advice.

FOR THE ACUTE EARLY VESICULAR STAGE OF DYSHIDROTIC HAND ECZEMA:
1. Dissolve two Domeboro tablets in 2 ounces of Alpha Keri bath oil (Bristol-Myers, Evansville, IN) and 1 quart of cold water.
2. Wear thin cotton gloves.
3. Immerse the gloved hands in the solution. Squeeze out the excess solution.
4. Allow to almost air dry. Do not cover to prevent evaporation.
5. Keep the solution in the refrigerator. When the gloves are almost dry, repeat steps 3 and 4.
6. Repeat the above routine throughout the waking hours.
7. Decrease the frequency of treatment as the condition improves. After the acute condition subsides in a week or so, Bactroban (Beecham, Bristol, TN) ointment and a mild topical corticosteroid is applied. The above regimen proved to be quite helpful. After 6 months, it was reported that the condition was quickly controlled but mild recurrences still appeared, which in turn were readily controlled without sequelae.

American Journal of Contact Dermatitis, Vol 5, No. 1 (March), 1994: p 55

What, you ask, is the problem with this recipe? Well, for one, alpha keri bath oil has not been composed with eczema sufferers in mind. It not only contains an emulsifier that can trouble sensitive skin (PEG-4 dilaurate), and lanolin, which is an occasional sensitizer for people with eczema, and fragrance, which is a common sensitizer for people with eczema, but it also contains benzophenone-3, also known as oxybenzone. Oxybenzone is a common source of contact dermatitis and urticaria from sun lotions. Lesson to be learned: dermatologists just don't pay attention! Make sure YOU do.

Photocontact allergy to oxybenzone: ten years of experience. Authors: Szczurko C, Dompmartin A, Michel M, Moreau A, Leroy D Author Address: Service de Dermatologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Caen, France.

Source: Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 1994, Aug; 10(4):144-7.

Abstract:

Intolerance of sunscreen agents has often been reported in the literature. This mainly comprises photosensitization to sunscreens such as oxybenzone. The aims of this study were to establish the incidence of photocontact allergy to oxybenzone and its relationship with the use of other cosmetics. From 1982 to 1992 we performed photopatch tests on 283 patients with suspected photodermatosis. Forty-six patients (16%) had positive reactions: 61 positive photopatch tests and 9 positive patch tests. Photocontact allergy to sunscreens was divided into 2 main groups: 35 cases to oxybenzone and 17 cases to para-aminobenzoic acid and its derivatives. Among our 35 cases of photoallergy to oxybenzone, more than one third had photoallergy to a daily moisturizer that contained oxybenzone.

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