Alternative Treatments for Atopic Dermatitis: An Update

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Integrative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Medicine

Background:

• Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, itchy inflammatory skin condition lacking a definitive cure.
• Many patients use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) alongside conventional treatments.
• Limited high-quality evidence exists for CAM efficacy in AD management, posing challenges for clinical recommendations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update the evidence on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CAM therapies for atopic dermatitis.
• To aggregate and review recent studies on CAM efficacy in AD since 2015.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was performed across major databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and GREAT.
• The search focused on RCTs investigating complementary and alternative therapies for AD between March 2015 and May 2018.
• Fifteen studies were included in the final review.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings suggest potential clinical benefits for several CAM treatments like vitamin E, East Indian Sandalwood Oil (EISO), melatonin, L-histidine, and Manuka honey.
• However, the current evidence base is not robust enough to support their routine use in AD therapy.
• The reviewed studies often have limitations in sample size and population representativeness.

Conclusions:

• While some CAM therapies show preliminary positive effects for atopic dermatitis, more rigorous research is essential.
• Future studies should prioritize larger sample sizes, diverse patient populations, and standardized methodologies.
• High-quality evidence is needed before CAM can be recommended for AD treatment.