CAM use in dermatology. Is there a potential role for honey, green tea, and vitamin C?

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a group of non-traditional medical practices that includes natural products, manipulations, and mind and body medicine. CAM use has grown and become popular among patients. In dermatology, honey, green tea, and vitamin C have been used as topical treatments for a variety of diseases. We performed a systematic review to explore the cutaneous effects of each of these three products. Honey's unique antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties were shown to contribute to wound healing, especially in ulcers and burns. Green tea, among many health benefits, demonstrated protection from ultraviolet-induced events, such as photoimmunosuppression and skin cancer growth. Vitamin C, known for its antioxidant properties and key role in collagen production, has been shown to produce positive effects on skin hyperpigmentation and aging. Future large well-designed clinical trials are needed in order to further investigate the potential of these agents as dermatological therapies.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine by patients seen at the dermatology department of a tertiary care center.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among patients with dermatologic conditions has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and pattern of CAM use in patients referred to the dermatology department of a tertiary care center. Patients referred to the dermatology department of an academic tertiary referral center between February 2, 2010, and February 10, 2010, were invited to participate in an 86-question survey regarding CAM use during the previous year. A total of 300 patients completed the survey, of whom 154 (51%) were women. Eighty-two percent (n = 247) of the respondents had used some type of CAM during the previous year. The most frequently used treatment and technique was massage therapy (33%), and the most commonly used vitamin was vitamin C (31%). Herbs or other dietary supplements were used by 58% (n = 173) of patients. Seventy-eight percent (n = 235) of patients stated that physicians should consider incorporating CAM approaches into their treatment recommendations, and 89% of patients (n = 267) stated that our dermatology department should study CAM approaches in research studies. CAM utilization is high among patients at a large academic dermatology department. Patients indicated a strong preference for having CAM approaches incorporated into their treatment recommendations and believed in the value of clinical studies to further refine the role of CAM.

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in dermatologic practice: a review.

Systemic glucocorticoids are widely used in dermatologic practice for various conditions including connective tissue and immunobullous diseases, vasculitis, dermatitis, neutrophilic and other dermatoses, and androgen excess syndromes. Long-term use of systemic glucocorticoids has been associated with substantial and rapid bone loss, which places patients at increased risk for bone fractures. Therefore, bone density measurements and the timely initiation of lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy are essential for future bone health. The use of several Food and Drug Administration-approved agents to prevent and treat corticosteroid-induced bone loss has been inconsistent among many specialties. In this review, the authors summarize guidelines on the prevention and treatment of corticosteroid-induced bone loss published by the American College of Rheumatology and supplement these guidelines with descriptions of the latest approved pharmacologic therapies and user-friendly flow algorithms. This summary should aid dermatologists in providing education and recommendations regarding bone health for their patients on systemic glucocorticoids.