Authors
Hay IC. Jamieson M. Ormerod AD.
Institution
Department of Dermatology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Foresterhill, Scotland.
ad.ormerod@abdn.ac.uk
Title
Randomized trial of
aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata.
Source
Archives of Dermatology. 134(11):1349-52, 1998 Nov.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of aromatherapy in
the treatment of patients with alopecia areata. DESIGN: A
randomized, double-blind, controlled trial
of 7 months' duration, with follow-up at 3 and 7 months. SETTING: Dermatology
outpatient department. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six patients diagnosed as having
alopecia areata. INTERVENTION: Eighty-six patients were
randomized into 2 groups. The active group massaged
essential oils (thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood) in a mixture of
carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) into their scalp daily. The control group
used only carrier oils for their massage, also daily. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Treatment success was evaluated on sequential photographs by 2 dermatologists
(I.C.H. and A.D.O.) independently. Similarly, the degree of improvement was
measured by 2 methods: a 6-point scale and computerized analysis of traced
areas of alopecia. RESULTS: Nineteen (44%) of 43 patients in the active group
showed improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 patients in the control group
(P = .008). An alopecia scale was applied by blinded observers on sequential
photographs and was shown to be reproducible with good interobserver
agreement (kappa = 0.84). The degree of improvement on photographic
assessment was significant (P = .05). Demographic analysis showed that the 2
groups were well matched for prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The results
show aromatherapy to be a safe and effective treatment for
alopecia areata. Treatment with these essential oils was significantly more
effective than treatment with the carrier oil alone (P = .008 for the primary
outcome measure). We also successfully applied an evidence-based method to an
alternative therapy.