India’s Skincare Prescription: National Insights From The Moist Study On Usage Of Moisturizers.

Background: Moisturizers play a crucial role in managing various dermatological conditions by hydrating the skin, repairing the skin barrier, and reducing symptoms. This study aimed to analyze moisturizer prescription patterns in Indian dermatology outpatient settings, focusing on prevalent conditions and treatment modalities. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, cross-sectional pan India study analyzed data from 12,064 patients attending dermatology outpatient departments across the country. Data extraction included patient demographics, dermatological conditions, and moisturizer prescription details. Statistical analyses were conducted using SAS 9.4 and SPSS (version 27). Results: The most frequently encountered dermatological conditions were Atopic Dermatitis (44.48%) presenting as dryness and associated symptoms. Emollient-based moisturizers were the most prescribed (36.3%), followed by ceramide-based moisturizers (22.4%). Lotion (41.4%) and cream (39.4%) formulations were preferred. Moisturizers were primarily prescribed for twice-daily use (79.2%). Emollients were favored for mild conditions, while occlusive and ceramide-based moisturizers were more common for moderate to severe cases. A large majority of patients (89.7%) showed improvement with moisturizer use. Conclusion: This study highlights the prevalence of Atopic Dermatitis with clinical presentation with dryness in Indian dermatology outpatients and the importance of moisturizers, particularly emollient and ceramide-based formulations, in their management. The findings support evidencebased prescribing practices tailored to condition severity, with high efficacy and safety of prescribed moisturizers.