A STUDY has shown the therapeutic benefits of wearing superfine Merino wool for those suffering skin conditions.
Separate clinical studies conducted by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and by the QLD Institute of Dermatology have showed the therapeutic benefits of wearing superfine Merino wool for those suffering skin conditions such as eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis.
Typically resulting in itchy, red, cracked and painful skin, AD often starts in childhood with between 12% and 28% of children now born in western countries.
The trials are challenging and breaking the significant myths that wool is not good to wear for those with AD and wool is a possible source of allergy.
Program Manager of Fibre Advocacy and Eco Credentials with Australian Wool Innovation Angus Ireland said the trials have been conducted using light weight, 150 gram per square metre superfine Merino wool garments with a micron range finer than 18.6 microns.
“More than 65 adults and children have participated in the studies, across a range of climates and the garments have not only been tolerated by the AD sufferers but have helped improve the condition,” he said.
“This was achieved despite virtually all participants from the Brisbane-based study, with its hot and humid environment, reporting they couldn’t wear wool prior to the trial, yet none of them withdrew because of wool intolerance.”
The trials of the skin health benefits of superfine wool base layer garments for AD sufferers have been under way for more than four years and have generated robust data supporting wool as therapeutic in the treatment of AD.
Three scientific papers associated with wool and skin health are being submitted for publication in high impact, peer-reviewed dermatological journals and are expected to be published by year's end.
A summary of findings are contained in a one page review here.
The first paper titled 'Determining the Effects of Superfine Sheep wool in Infantile Eczema' was presented at dermatology conferences in Australia, Brazil and France.
The study of children less than three years old employed a cross-over design where they wore superfine Merino wool for six weeks before changing over to cotton, and vice versa.
The researchers found when children switched over to wool after wearing cotton, they showed a significant decrease in eczema severity whereas those who switched over to cotton after wearing wool showed worsening of eczema.
The study’s lead author Associate Professor John Su from Monash University and Murdoch Childrens Research Institute said the results “challenge our current practice” when advising about the suitability of wool for children with atopic dermatitis.
“When comparing with cotton, there are inherent differences in fibre properties, [Merino] wool’s greater ability to transfer moisture vapour and heat than other major apparel fibres enable it to maintain a more stable microclimate between the skin and garment,” he said.
Rheannan Williams, mother of one of the children in the study, said within two to three weeks of wearing wool it was unbelievable as her skin was clear.
“I would 100% recommend it, it’s amazing,” she said.
The second paper, which specifically addresses the myth of wool allergy, will be submitted for publication next followed by the third paper “An assessment of superfine Merino wool as therapeutic in the treatment of Atopic Dermatitis”.
