ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Over the past decade, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has become increasingly popular around the world. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aim to investigate how frequently CAM is used and the types of CAM methods used for dermatological disease in Eastern Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 1610 patients from our clinic for this study. The sociodemographic features and the CAM methods were investigated with a survey. RESULTS: The most common dermatological disorders included contact dermatitis (21.4%), acne vulgaris (17.5%), fungal infections (10.9%), eczema (6.3%), and warts (5.7%). The ratio of patients using at least one CAM method was 43.7% and that of those using two or more CAM methods was 20.8%. The most commonly used CAM methods were those using henna, cologne, moisturizing cream, prayer, and herbal therapy. Some patients were found to use some interesting and unusual CAM methods, such as putting out a cigarette over the skin on the back for anthrax, applying raw meat for furuncle, using fuel oil and nitric acid for contact dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS: CAM methods are commonly used in our population. CAM methods often cause adverse reactions that may alter diagnostic skin findings and interfere with the efficacy of other medical therapies. Therefore, physicians should ask their patients about the use of CAM methods while collecting patient history. Physicians have a critical role in preventing improper use of CAM. In addition, further investigations into the efficacy, benefits, and risks of CAM methods should be carried out for better insight into those CAM methods.
Subject(s)
Complementary Therapies/statistics & numerical data , Skin Diseases/epidemiology , Skin Diseases/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Complementary Therapies/adverse effects , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Turkey/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Chenopodium album L. ssp. album is a common plant species worldwide, especially in humid areas. Sun exposure after oral intake of the plant can lead to sunburn-like rashes owing to its furocoumarin content. In this article, we reported nine patients who developed dermatitis with edema, erythema and necrosis on the face and dorsum of the hands. Each was exposed to sunlight after eating selemez (the vernacular name of C. album L. ssp. album). The plant samples analyzed by an expert botanist were described as C. album L. ssp. album belonging to Chenopodiacea family.