Alternative medicines may treat psoriasis, but proceed cautiously – DermatologyTimes

Doctor and patient are discussing something, just hands at the table

A review of complementary and alternative medicines used by more than 51 percent of patients with psoriasis, shows that indigo naturalis, curcumin, dietary modification, fish oil, meditation, and acupuncture may be effective in some patients, but proceed cautiously investigators say.

“There have been many complimentary and alternative medicine treatments investigated for psoriasis. There is some evidence of the efficacy for these therapies in psoriasis; however, these studies must be interpreted cautiously given their small sample sizes, variability in the quality of the study design, and differences in primary outcomes measured,” wrote researchers who were led by Anna J. Nichols, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the High Risk Skin Cancer Clinic of the University of Miami Health System.
The review, published online September 15 in JAMA Dermatology, examines the results of 57 trials and three meta-analyses. The assessment is important, said co-author Alexandra Price, M.D., a resident with the University of Miami Health System, because this is largely uncharted territory.

“For the most part, it has been uncharted territory for physicians to counsel patients on which of these alternative therapies are safe and effective. Familiarizing ourselves with the evidence behind these therapies allows us to better counsel and advise our patients on potential interactions, adverse reactions and efficacy,” she said.

The review is based on a search of PubMed, Embase and www.clinicaltrials.gov for relevant studies published or conducted between 1950 and 2017. The final analysis included 44 research clinical trials, 10 uncontrolled trials, two controlled non-randomized trials, one prospective non-randomized controlled trial and three meta-analyses.

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