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[2 min read] Complementary and alternative medicine for psoriasis
Patients are always keen to try complementary approaches to their skin disorders, and it is useful for primary care practitioners to have some evidence-based advice for these patients. In fact, up to 51 per cent of patients with psoriasis report the use of complementary and alternative medicine in their treatment regimen, although it has hitherto been unclear which therapies are effective for treatment of psoriasis.
As complementary and alternative medicine treatments are gaining popularity, a recent review compiled evidence on the efficacy of the most studied complementary and alternative medicine modalities for treatment of patients with plaque psoriasis.
The systematic review of 57 trials and three meta-analyses found that indigo naturalis and oral or topical curcumin had the most robust evidence of efficacy in the treatment of plaque psoriasis.
Dietary modification including weight loss and the Mediterranean diet may also be beneficial. Fish oil was shown to improve the skin condition but with varying results, and cannot be recommended at this time. A small number of articles suggested that meditation and acupuncture may also be helpful.
The review may aid practitioners in advising patients seeking unconventional approaches for treatment of psoriasis.
Source: Gamret AC, Price A, Fertig RM, Lev-Tov H, Nichols AJ. Complementary and Alternative Medicine Therapies for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review. JAMA Dermatol. 2018;154(11):1330–1337. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2018.2972
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