Evaluation of the efficacy of local application of bee products in the care of diaper dermatitis in infants: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of a barrier cream containing propolis, beeswax, queen bee larvae, and vegetable oil (barrier cream 1) with those of zinc oxide (barrier cream 2) and olive oil on the healing of mild diaper dermatitis (DD).

METHODS

A single-blind, parallel-group, pretest-posttest, repeated-measures randomized controlled trial was conducted. The study included infants aged 1-6 months diagnosed with mild DD, who were recruited from three family health centers and a pediatric outpatient clinic in a public hospital in a district of the Mediterranean Region of Türkiye. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance, chi-square, Bonferroni correction, and generalized estimating equations with multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean DD severity score on days 1, 2, and 3 was lower in the barrier cream 1 group than in the barrier cream 2 and olive oil groups. The mean DD severity score on day 2 of the babies in the barrier cream 1 group was significantly lower than in the other groups (p = .012). Compared to olive oil, barrier cream 1 was 2.54 times (p = .004) more effective, and barrier cream 2 was 1.43 times more effective (p = .192) in improving DD.

CONCLUSIONS

Barrier cream 1, a formulation containing propolis, beeswax, queen bee larvae, and vegetable oil, demonstrated superior effectiveness in treating mild DD in infants compared to barrier cream 2 and olive oil.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Interventions aligned with the ABCDE model positively influenced healing outcomes and enhanced parental satisfaction.