ÖZMEN, İbrahim Çorlu Military Hospital - Dermatology Service, Turkey , ÇALIŞKAN, Ercan Gülhane Military Medical Academy - School of Medicine - Department of Dermatology, Turkey , ARCA, Ercan Gülhane Military Medical Academy - School of Medicine - Department of Dermatology, Turkey , AÇIKGÖZ, Gürol Gülhane Military Medical Academy - School of Medicine - Department of Dermatology, Turkey , KOÇ, Erol Gülhane Military Medical Academy - School of Medicine - Department of Dermatology, Turkey

Efficacy of aromatherapy in the treatment of localized alopecia areata: A double-blind placebo controlled study

20207

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease of the hair follicle which is characterized by round or oval patches of non-scarring hair loss. In this double-blind randomized controlled study we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy (Revigen® Areata solution) in the treatment of localized alopecia areata. There were two groups in this study, the aromatherapy group consisted of twenty patients treated with aromatherapy (essential oils like thyme, rosemary, lavender, evening primrose oil and cedrus in a mixture of carrier oils like jojoba, grape seed, almond, lemon and soy oils). The placebo group consisted of 20 patients treated with only carrier oils. Each group was treated daily for three months. Hair growth rate (0-4 score), clinical assessment (0-4 score) and the size of the affected area (cm2) were evaluated before the treatment, at the end of the treatment and two months after the last treatment. At the end of the follow-up period, mean hair growth rates were 2.65±1.37 and 1.11±0.5; and clinical assessment were 2.65±1.28 and 1.11±0.58 in aromatherapy and placebo groups respectively. Mean size of affected area was decreased from 6.54±10.18 to 3.40±7.62 in aromatherapy group and 6.73±8.88 to 5.30±7.26 in placebo group. All observed differences between these treatment groups were statistically significant (p 0.05). Aromatherapy is significantly more effective than placebo and safe for the treatment of localized alopecia areata.

233

Alopecia areata , aromatherapy , essential oils

Gulhane Medical Journal

236