Maintaining balance

It is important to create and maintain a balanced microbial environment for long-term health.

Microbial balance is crucial to maintaining a healthy skin condition for patients with Atopic Dermatitis (AD).​

How?
By creating a positive environment that encourages the growth of the good bacteria on skin to a balanced level.

Skin in balance: criteria ​

1. ​Maintains suitable temperature​
2. Dry, but remains moisturized​
3. pH value 4.5-6
4. Non-allergic​

Without these conditions, relief and treatment for Atopic Dermatitis is harder to achieve and sustain.​

Atopic Dermatitis​

Atopic Dermatitis is a long-term skin condition characterized by continuous ITCHING, pain and discomfort, caused by dry skin. It can often result in chronic sleep disruption.

Two possible causes for Atopic Dermatitis could be:​

• Dysfunction in the skin barrier​
• Impaired sweating function​​

Sweating: a regulator​ and a triggering factor

Sweating, plays 4 key roles in:​

1. Regulating skin temperature
2. Moisturizing​
3. Regulating skin surface pH value​
4. Antibacterial​​

However…​
Untreated sweat may also provoke an allergic reaction in people with Atopic Dermatitis. 
Sweat management is essential.​

Successful treatment plans

A successful treatment plans depends largely on the patients’ good self-management in treatment application.

One of the findings from the CLOTHES trial commissioned by the UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) for the relief of AD Symptoms:

Improved self-management is key in enhancing treatment outcome and improved life quality for people with impaired sweating function.​

Clothing matters​

Since our skin touches our clothing all year round, our choice of fabric becomes integral to the management of Atopic Dermatitis and associated skin irritation. ​

Choosing the right clothing can utilize the regulatory functions of sweating while minimizing negative effects.​

1. Maintains suitable temperature via​:                                          
   1. Evaporative cooling                                                        
   2. Intelligent design of variable thermal conductivity
2. Dry but maintains moisturized​
3. pH value 4.5 – 6​
4. Non-allergic​

Features of Comfiknit​

Comfiknit: Comfort that energises​​

The concept of Comfiknit optimizes the body’s natural ability to thermoregulate, optimizing comfort.​

The fabric has been engineered to create a micro-climate for the wearer.​

The flexible fabric structure can also be altered according to wearers’ specific needs during the seasonal change from summer to winter.

Comfiknit – Structure ensures integrity​

1. Unique layered structure
   Top side of the fabric → hydrophilic​
   Skin side of the fabric → low water affinity with absorbing function
   Therefore…​
   Even with extra rinses during washing, the pH value of the fabric is retained​
   
   
2. Special knitting properties
   The layers are interconnected with small quantities of top layer materials appear at the bottom layer, and vice versa.
   → allowing the skin side fabric with good absorption.