Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology

The Barrier Enhancement for Eczema Prevention (BEEP) Study


The BEEP study has shown that applying emollients to babies from birth does not prevent eczema. We looked at the skin of all the babies in the BEEP study when they reached two and five years of age and there was no difference in the number who had developed eczema between those who used emollients and those who didn’t.

Two year results

 

Data from the BEEP trial will be incorporated into a prospective, individual patient data meta-analysis led by members of the BEEP team. This will include all similar ongoing studies and will provide more power to look at some of the secondary outcomes as well as a timely and high-quality meta-analysis of the primary outcome. Other related trials will be incorporated into a retrospective systematic review.

 

Five year results

 
 

Many thanks to the 1394 families who are taking part in the BEEP study. Without you this work would not have happened – you are part of ground-breaking research that has provided a clear answer to families.

 

Further information

Key facts

Why do the BEEP study?
 
How many families took part in the BEEP study?
 
What were families asked to do?
 
Where did the study taking place?
 
What were the results of the study?
 
What do the results mean for parents?
 
Who funded the study?
 
 

Publications

Emollients for prevention of atopic dermatitis: 5-year findings from the BEEP randomized trial Allergy. 2022 Oct 19. doi: 10.1111/all.15555.

Daily emollient during infancy for prevention of eczema: the BEEP randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2020 Feb 19 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)32984-8

An algorithm for diagnosing IgE‐mediated food allergy in study participants who do not undergo food challenge. Clin Exp Allergy. 2020 Jan 30. doi: 10.1111/cea.13577.

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of daily all-over-body application of emollient during the first year of life for preventing atopic eczema in high-risk children (The BEEP trial): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2017 Jul 21;18(1):343. doi: 10.1186/s13063-017-2031-3.

Emollient enhancement of the skin barrier from birth offers effective atopic dermatitis prevention. [BEEP pilot study] J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014 Oct;134(4):818-23

How should an incident case of atopic dermatitis be defined? A systematic review of primary prevention studies J   Allergy Clin Immunol. 2012 Jul;130(1):137-44.

Prevention of atopic dermatitis F1000 Med Rep. 2012;4:24. doi: 10.3410/M4-24.

The Prevention of Eczema in Infants and Children: An Overview of Cochrane and Non-Cochrane reviews Evid Based Child Health. 2011 Sep;6(5):1322-1339.


Funding Acknowledgement This project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme (project number 12/67/12). The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Health Technology Assessment programme, NIHR, NHS or the Department of Health.

Use of your data in research

Centre of Evidence Based Dermatology

The University of Nottingham
Applied Health Research Building
University Park, Nottingham
NG7 2RD


telephone: +44 (0) 115 84 68631
email: cebd@nottingham.ac.uk