Complementary and alternative medicine treatments for common skin diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Virginia A Jones; Payal M Patel; Claire Wilson; Hongnan Wang; Kurt A Ashack

doi:10.1016/j.jdin.2020.11.001

Complementary and alternative medicine treatments for common skin diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

JAAD Int. 2020 Dec 26:2:76-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.11.001. eCollection 2021 Mar.

Authors

Virginia A Jones¹, Payal M Patel¹, Claire Wilson¹, Hongnan Wang², Kurt A Ashack^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
² Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
³ Dermatology Associates of West Michigan, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Abstract

Background: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments are growing in popularity as alternative treatments for common skin conditions.

Objectives: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the tolerability and treatment response to CAM treatments in acne, atopic dermatitis (AD), and psoriasis.

Methods: PubMed/Medline and Embase databases were searched to identify eligible studies measuring the effects of CAM in acne, AD, and psoriasis. Effect size with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated using the random-effect model.

Results: The search yielded 417 articles; 40 studies met the inclusion criteria. The quantitative results of CAM treatment showed a standard mean difference (SMD) of 3.78 (95% CI [-0.01, 7.57]) and 0.58 (95% CI [-6.99, 8.15]) in the acne total lesion count, a SMD of -0.70 (95% CI [-1.19, -0.21]) in the eczema area and severity index score and a SMD of 0.94 (95% CI [-0.83, 2.71]) in the scoring of atopic dermatitis score for AD, and a SMD of 3.04 (95% CI [-0.35, 6.43]) and 5.16 (95% CI [-0.52, 10.85]) in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score for psoriasis.

Limitations: Differences between the study designs, sample sizes, outcome measures, and treatment durations limit the generalizability of data.

Conclusions: Based on our quantitative findings we conclude that there is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy and the recommendation of CAM for acne, AD, and psoriasis.

Keywords: AD, atopic dermatitis; AV, aloe vera; CAM, complementary and alternative medicine; CCO, coconut oil; GT, green tea; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; SCORAD, scoring of atopic dermatitis; SMD, standardized mean difference; SSO, sunflower seed oil; TCS, topical corticosteroid; TLC, total lesion count; TTO, tea tree oil; acne vulgaris; aloe vera; atopic dermatitis; coconut oil; colloidal oatmeal; complementary alternative medicine; curcumin; eczema; green tea; honey; meta-analysis; natural ingredients; psoriasis; shea butter; sunflower seed oil; systematic review; tea tree oil; turmeric; witch hazel.

Publication types

Review