A foam cream designed to protect the feet of people with diabetes resulted in a 50% increase in skin moisture levels in seven days, a new study has shown.
Allpresan diabetic foot foam cream, which is produced by GlucoRx, works by forming a meshed ‘netting’ over the skin and can be used on the entire diabetic foot, including in between the toes.
This ‘netting’ not only protects the feet from harmful external factors but allows the skin to breathe and retain its natural functions.
In a trial, the foam creams were used by 20 people with diabetic foot syndrome, who applied the foam cream twice daily during a four-week period.
Following the initial 50% rise in moisture levels after seven days, the levels continued to rise over 28 days to more than 60%.
In addition, those using the cream demonstrated an increased willingness to continue with the treatment.
Separately, the moisturising effects of the foam cream containing 10% urea (Allpresan No.3) were assessed over an eight-hour period in 33 people with diabetic foot syndrome.
The assessor reported: “A single application of Allpresan No.3 resulted in substantial improvement in skin moisture content when compared to untreated skin, lasting for up to eight hours. The skin stayed moist and protected from damage compared to untreated skin.”
The foam creams contain moisturising agents pentavitin, panthenol and urea. Pentavitin is a highly-potent moisturiser which contains naturally-occurring carbohydrates. It binds strongly to the skin and has a highly-effective moisture-regulating capability.
Panthenol acts as a moisturiser, improving stratum corneum hydration, reducing trans-epidermal water loss and maintaining skin softness and elasticity.
Urea is a keratin softener and hydrating agent used in the treatment of dry, scaling conditions. Urea increases the moisture content of the keratinous layer of the skin, making the skin softer and more supple, as well as relieving itchiness.
With the tiniest wound posing a real risk for infection, Allpresan foam creams are clinically and medically approved in the UK for use on the entire diabetic foot.
The research also reported: “Allpresan diabetic foam cream intensive (10% urea) was found to be as effective as 10% urea cream in a patient and podiatrist evaluation study (n=20 patients with dry feet and or heels).
“Allpresan foam cream was applied to one foot (test foot) and 10% urea cream was applied to the other foot (control foot), both applied twice daily for 14 days.
“At baseline there was no significant difference in the clinically measured dry skin score between the test and control foot overall. When the feet were assessed at day 14, there was a significant reduction in overall dryness scores for both feet in all patients.
“Mean dryness scores in the test foot reduced from 5.90 at baseline to 2.00 at day 14 (p<0.000). In the control foot mean dryness scores reduced from 5.90 at baseline to 2.10 at day 14 (p<0.000).”
Clinicians reviewed the product’s efficacy, with 80% rating it as good to excellent.
The research team commented: “Participating podiatrists felt that a foam cream promoted less wastage. They also felt that owing to the texture and application of the foam, Allpresan foam cream could make an excellent post-operative application to be kept in the surgery for patients following podiatry treatment, as it is clean and quick to apply and didn’t need to be worked in as much as creams, saving practitioners time at the end of a consultation.”