Comparison of the Efficacy of Topical Human Breast Milk versus Hydrocortisone 1% Lotion in the Clinical Improvement of Atopic Eczema in Infants: A Non-inferiority Trial

Increasing evidence from these published researches also support the anti-inflammatory property of HBM. A study done my Farahani et al. comparing the effect of human milk and topical hydrocortisone 1% on diaper dermatitis, showed that treatment with HBM was as effective as hydrocortisone 1% ointment in reducing severity scores in seven days [13]. This was attributed to milk components that directly exert an anti-inflammatory effect or indirectly create unfavorable environment conditions for bacterial growth by modifying the commensal flora the pH or bacterial substrates [13]. Lactation consultants have been advocates in promoting topical HBM application on sore nipples and infantile rash [13]. Mohammadzadeh et al. has shown that it is comparable to lanolin in improving sore nipples in breastfeeding women [10]. It was postulated that human milk being a source of two classes of major growth factors, transforming growth factors alpha (TGF-α) and beta (TGF-β) and the Insulin-like Growth Factors (IGF) may have roles in wound healing. TGF-α and TGF-β are involved in normal cell activities such as embryonic development, cell proliferation and tissue repair.