Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-controlled studies, prospective studies, and retrospective studies of occlusive therapy in patients with atopic dermatitis were eligible for inclusion.
The included studies considered wet-wrap therapy and dry therapy in patients with various forms of eczema, various forms of atopic dermatitis, and lichen simplex disease. Various occlusive therapy agents were used, including beclomethasone dipropionate, betamethosome, chlorhexidine, clobetasol, diflucortolone valerate, fluticasone propionate, hydrocortisone, prednicarbat alone, mometasone fluroate, saline, silver-coated material and emollients. The duration of therapy ranged from 24 hours to four weeks; the frequency of application was generally daily, but twice daily and weekly regimens were also included. Some studies included children only; other studies included adults only, or mixed age groups.
The authors did not state how many reviewers performed study selection.