A randomized comparative trial on the therapeutic efficacy of topical aloe vera and Calendula officinalis on diaper dermatitis in children.

INTRODUCTION: Diaper dermatitis (DD) is a common inflammatory disorder among children and infants. The objective of the present randomized and double-blind trial was to compare the therapeutic efficacies of aloe vera cream and Calendula officinalis ointment on the frequency and severity of DD in children. METHODS: Sixty-six infants with DD (aged < 3 years) were randomized to receive either aloe cream (n = 32) or Calendula ointment (n = 34). Infants were treated with these drugs 3 times a day for 10 days. The severity of dermatitis was graded at baseline as well as at the end of trial using a 5-point scale. The adverse effects of study medications were assessed during the trial. RESULTS: Although improvement in the severity of DD was observed in both treatment groups (P < 0.001), patients receiving Calendula ointment had significantly fewer rash sites compared to aloe group (P = 0.001). No adverse effect was reported from either of the medications. DISCUSSION: The evidence from this study suggests that topical aloe and in particular Calendula could serve as safe and effective treatment for the treatment of diaper dermatitis in infants.

Efficacy of Aloe vera/olive oil cream versus betamethasone cream for chronic skin lesions following sulfur mustard exposure: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pruritic skin lesions are among the common late complications of sulfur mustard intoxication. In the present randomized double-blind clinical trial, therapeutic efficacy of Aloe vera/olive oil combination cream in the alleviation of these lesions was evaluated and compared to that of betamethasone 0.1% cream. METHODS: Sixty-seven Iranian chemical warfare-injured veterans were randomized to apply A. vera/olive oil (n=34, completers=31) or betamethasone 0.1% (n=33, completers=32) cream twice daily for 6 weeks. Evaluation of pruritus severity was performed using a pruritic score questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Both treatments were associated with significant reductions in the frequency of pruritus (p<0.05), burning sensation (p<0.01 and p<0.001 in A. vera/olive oil and betamethasone group, respectively), scaling (p<0.01 and p<0.05) and dry skin (p<0.001) at the end of trial. Fissure and excoriation were only reduced in the A. vera group (p<0.05). The change in the frequency of hyper- and hypopigmentation lesions, blisters, erythema and lichenification did not reach statistical significance in any of the groups (p>0.05). Mean pruritus (p<0.05) and VAS scores (p<0.01 and p<0.05) were significantly decreased by the end of trial in both groups. The rate of improvement in the pruritus severity [defined as being classified in a less severe category (mild, moderate and severe)] was found to be comparable between the groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: A. vera/olive oil cream was at least as effective as betamethasone 0.1% in the treatment of sulfur mustard-induced chronic skin complications and might serve as a promising therapeutic option for the alleviation of symptoms in mustard gas-exposed patients.