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Review
. 2025 Jun;18(6):29-40.

The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines Utilized In Cosmetic and Surgical Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review

Promise Ufomadu  1 , Bartley Joseph Gill  1   2 , Theodore Rosen  1   3 , Ikue Shmizu  1   3 , Ida Orengo  1   3
Affiliations
Review

The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicines Utilized In Cosmetic and Surgical Dermatology: A Comprehensive Review

Promise Ufomadu et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Background: Lately, there has been a growing demand for the utilization of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) with dermatological applications. This is true despite limited RCT-level studies on such agents. This presents a barrier for dermatologists and fellow clinicians in counseling patients who may be using or are tempted to use these CAM modalities. This review highlights CAM agents used by patients for applications in cosmetic and surgical dermatology, exploring their efficacy and toxicity profiles.

Methods: A comprehensive review was conducted on the effectiveness of several CAMs utilized in cosmetic and surgical dermatology by patients. A literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and Cochrane.

Results: Most CAM agents studied had statistically insignificant results, and for CAM agents that had significant results in efficacy, the studies were questionable due to flawed randomization, lack of proper blinding, faulty data analysis, poor study design, suggestion of bias, small sample size, and limited clinical application.

Conclusion: CAM agents have promising potential in dermatologic use; however, more RCT-level studies are needed. A study design that either emphasizes a comparison between the CAM agent and conventional therapy, or the CAM agent with or without conventional therapy should be incorporated in future studies. As of now, dermatologists should be cognizant of bias in published studies demonstrating the effectiveness of certain CAM agents, as well as the possible adverse effects.

Keywords: BCC; Complementary and alternative medicine; Steven Johnson syndrome; botanicals; bowen; melanoma; mohs; photoaging; scars; skin cancer.

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Conflict of interest statement

DISCLOSURES: The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

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