Table II.
Characteristics of the studies included in the qualitative analysis
| Reference | Country | Age (years) | Sex (female/male) | Study design | Disease | Variable studied | Treatment ingredient | Control ingredient | n total | n treatment total | n controls total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bassett et al, 199017 | Australia | Range: 12-35 Mean: 19.7 |
60/64∗ (before dropout) | Single-blind RCT | Acne | Total number of inflamed lesions (superficial and deep) as well as noninflamed lesions (open and closed comedones) Assessment of skin tolerance |
TTO | BP | 119 | 58 | 61 |
| Mazzarello et al, 201818 | Italy | Range: 14-34 | 41/19 | Single-center, randomized, double-blinded,comparative study | Acne | TLC, ASI | TTO-PTAC, ERC | Vehicle gel | 60 | PTAC-20, ERC-20 | 20 |
| Lubtikulthum et al, 201919 | Thailand | Mean (treatment): 21.79 ± 2.238 Mean (control): 21.89 ± 2.153 |
47/27 | Observer-blinded, noninferiority randomized controlled study | Acne | TLC, adherence, porphyrin counts, DLQI, satisfaction, side effects | TTO | BP | 74 | 38 | 36 |
| Malhi et al, 201612 | Australia | Range: 16-39 Mean: 26 |
9/5 | Open-label, uncontrolled phase II pilot study | Acne | TLC | TTO | None | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Elsaie et al, 20095 | Egypt | Range: 15-36 | 14/6 | Open-label, prospective cohort study | Acne | TLC, SI | GT | None | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Hajheydari et al, 201420 | Iran | Range (treatment):11-32 Range (Control): 14-37 Mean (treatment): 22.33 ± 4.82 Mean (control): 24.70 ± 5.56 |
60/0 | Randomized (simple-random sampling), double-blind, prospective trial | Acne | TLC, ASI | TR/AVG | TR/vehicle | 60 | 30 | 30 |
| Haris et al, 20126 | India | Range: 15-38 | 12/9 | Open, single centric, non-comparative clinical trial | Acne | Acne score, papule count, pustule count and skin sebum Subject self-assessment of satisfaction |
AVCO | None | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| Al-Waili et al, 20037 | United Arab Emirates | Range: 5-16 | 4/17 | Patient-blinded, partially controlled study | AD | Erythema, scaling, lichenification, excoriation, indurations, oozing and itching on a 0-4 points scale | Honey, OO and beeswax mixture | TCS | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| Semprini et al, 201521 | New Zealand | Range: 16-40∗ Mean: 21.2 ± 5.8∗ |
N/A | Single-blind RCT | Acne | IGA, mean lesion count (Leeds revised acne grading system), VAS, DLQI | KH | Protex soap: triclocarban-based antibacterial soap | 106 | 68 | 67 |
| Alangari et al, 20178 | Saudi Arabia | Mean: 33 ± 10 | 8/6 | Proof-of-concept, open-label, split-treatment pilot study | AD | TIS Staphylococci and enterotoxin production via skin swab Interleukin release via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay |
MH | No treatment | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Danby et al 201222 | UK | 18+ Mean Cohort 1 34 ± 4.0 |
14/5 | Two randomized forearm-controlled mechanistic studies | AD | Stratum corneum integrity and cohesion, intercorneocyte cohesion, moisturization, skin-surface pH, and erythema | SSO | OO | 19 | Cohort 2 (SSO+OO): 12 | Cohort 1 (OO): 7 |
| Khiljee et al, 201523 | Pakistan | 18+ | N/A | Double-blind RCT, comparative study | AD | Degree of erythema, edema, scaling, itching and lichenification | Indian penny wort, walnut and turmeric | Prepared without plant extracts for the 3 formulations of microemulsion, gel, ointment | 360 | 270 | 90 |
| Korting et al, 199524 | Germany | Range: 18-62 Mean: 32 |
58/12 | Double-blind, randomized, split-body, paired trial | AD | Itching, erythema and scaling (basic criteria) as well as for edema, papules, pustules, exudation, lichenification, excoriation and fissures (minor criteria) according to a 4-point scale | Hamamelis distillate | Vehicle cream or TCS | 72 | 72 | 36 vehicle cream, 36 TCS |
| Rawal et al, 20089 | India | Range: 12-80 Mean: 39.04 |
69/50 | Clinical trial | AD | Change in symptom score: erythema, scaling (crusting), thickening, and itching | Curcumin-Herbavate cream | None | 119 | 119 | 0 |
| Verallo-Rowell et al, 200825 | Philippines | Range (VCO): 29-35 Range (VOO): 21-39 Mean (VCO): 32 ± 3 Mean (VOO): 31 ± 4 |
25/27 | Double-blind, RCT | AD | SCORAD, O-SSI | VCO | VOO | 52 | 26 | 26 |
| Evangelista et al, 201426 | Philippines | Range (VCO): 3.84-5.55 Range (Mineral oil): 3.43-4.85 Mean (VCO): 4.69 Mean (Mineral Oil): 4.14 |
50/47 | Double-blind RCT | AD | SCORAD, TEWL, skin capacitance | VCO | Mineral oil | 117 | 59 | 58 |
| Camplone et al, 200427 | Italy | <14 | 128/134 + 1 not known | RCT | AD | Physician judgment, PT compliance with skin care products | CO | None | 263 | 5 groups: Colloid: 55, Derm: 29 Fluid: 75 Milk: 37 Oil: 67 |
0 |
| Lisante et al, 201728 | USA | Range: 10-80; 8-67 Mean: 32.9 ± 22.7; 27.1 ± 20.6 |
23/6; 18/12 | Two Separate single-center, single-arm clinical trial | AD | Study 1: EASI, Investigators' Global Atopic Dermatitis Assessment, VAS Study 2: EASI, Patient-reported itch severity |
CO | None | 30; 29 | 30;29 | 0 |
| Diluvio et al, 201910 | Italy | Range: 3-17 Mean: 9 |
18/12 | Clinical trial | AD | IGA, EASI, Itch severity, IDQOL | Mix of CO, avenanthramides, SB, and oat oil | None | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| Giordano et al, 200629 | France | Range: 6 months-12 years Mean: 4 years |
N/A | Multicenter RCT | AD | SCORAD, CDLQI | Shea Butter-Exomega®milk | Cleansing bar alone | 76 | 37 | 39 |
| Al-Waili et al, 20037 | United Arab Emirates | Range: 20-60 Mean: 32 |
4/14 | Patient-blinded, partially controlled study | Psoriasis | Redness, scaling, Thickening, and itching, on a 0-4 points scale | Honey, OO and beeswax mixture | TCS | 18 | 8 | 10 |
| Carrion et al, 201530 | Spain | Mean: 41.3 ± 12.0 | 8/13 | Phase IV, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot clinical trial | Psoriasis | BSA, severity signs total score, PGA, PASI | VLST | Curcuma extract with VLRT | 21 | 10 | 11 |
| George et al, 199331 | UK | Range: 18-68 | 16/13 | Single-blind, randomized controlled (half-body) study | Psoriasis | Mean psoriasis severity scores | PUVA + CO | UVB + CO | 29 | 14 | 15 |
| McKinnon and Klaber, 200032 | UK | Mean (treatment): 45.8 ± 15.6 Mean (control): 44.7 ± 16.1 |
228/247 | Multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label design | Psoriasis | Extent of scalp psoriasis estimated on 6-point scale | CCO-Calcipotriol scalp solution | Coal tar-based solution | 475 | 238 | 237 |
| Mariano et al, 201811 | Italy | Range: 18-65 | N/A | Prospective multicenter open study | Psoriasis | Clinical and patients' evaluation of scalp itching, erythema, and desquamation | Honeydew Honey-Mellis Cap shampoo | None | 30 | 30 | 0 |
AD, Atopic dermatitis; ASI, acne severity index; AVCO, activated virgin coconut oil acne gel; AVG, aloe vera gel; BP, benzoyl peroxide; BSA, body surface area affected; CCO, coconut oil; CDLQI, children's dermatology life quality index; CO, colloidal oatmeal; DLQI, dermatology life quality index; EASI, eczema area and severity index composite score; ERC, 3% erythromycin cream; GT, green tea; IDQOL, infant's dermatitis quality of life index; IGA, investigator's global assessment for acne; KH, kanuka honey; MH, manuka honey; N/A, not applicable; OO, olive oil; O-SSI, objective-SCORAD severity index; PASI, psoriasis area and severity index; PGA, physician global assessment; PT, patient; PTAC, propolis, tea tree oil, and aloe vera cream; PUVA, photochemotherapy; RCT, randomized clinical trial; SB, shea butter extract; SCORAD, severity scoring of atopic dermatitis; SH, skin hydration; SI, severity index; SSO, sunflower seed oil; TCS, topical corticosteroid; TEWL, transepidermal water loss; TIS, 3 item severity score including erythema, edema/papulation, and excoriation; TLC, total lesion count reduction; TR, tretinoin cream; TTO, tea tree oil; UK, United Kingdom; USA, United States of America; UVB, narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy; VAS, visual analog score; VCO, virgin coconut oil; VLRT, real visible light phototherapy; VLST, simulated visible light phototherapy; VOO, virgin olive oil.
Sex ratio does not represent patients who dropped out of the study.