Integrative Skin Care: Dermatology and Traditional and Complementary Medicine

Area of Science:

• Integrative medicine
• Dermatology
• Public health

Background:

• Skin conditions are globally prevalent, causing significant distress and stigma.
• Traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) encompasses diverse, long-standing skin care modalities.
• These T&CM approaches are increasingly integrated into broader integrative medicine (IM) frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of T&CM and IM for skin health.
• To review existing evidence, including epidemiological studies and clinical trials.
• To discuss research challenges and propose future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of epidemiological studies and clinical trials.
• Analysis of T&CM and IM principles and practices for skin health.
• Discussion of research methodologies and challenges.

Main Results:

• A substantial body of evidence supports the efficacy and safety of T&CM for skin conditions.
• Integrative medicine (IM) approaches combine T&CM with nutrition and mind-body practices.
• Challenges in T&CM and IM research include methodological and policy-related issues.

Conclusions:

• T&CM and IM offer promising avenues for skin health management.
• There is a need for innovative research aligned with IM principles.
• Future research should consider policy and public health implications for T&CM and IM in dermatology.