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Effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis using a low dose, oral homeopathic medication consisting of potassium bromide, sodium bromide, nickel sulfate, and sodium chloride in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study - Original research: seborrhea

Alternative Medicine Review, Feb, 2002 by Steven A. Smith, Ardith E. Baker, John H. Williams, Jr.

Results Demography

Twenty-four males and 21 females ranging in age from 20 to 77 years (mean age: 53 years) entered the study. Twenty-three patients were randomly assigned to the placebo group while 22 were randomly assigned to the active group. Four patients (3 placebo and 1 active) were excluded by the investigator prior to breaking the double-blind code based on subsequent diagnoses of sebopsoriasis, leaving 41 patients (21 males and 20 females) in the study. The remaining patients were age- and sex-matched both at baseline and at 10 weeks after excluding all dropouts (Table 2). The baseline seborrheic disease state (as measured by the SASI) was consistent between the placebo and active groups (p=0.2686).

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Patient Withdrawal

During the 10-week blinded portion of the study, three placebo and three active patients discontinued the study and were lost to follow-up. Also during this 10-week period, three patients discontinued due to conditions unrelated to the study medication: one active patient discontinued due to a broken leg; one active patient discontinued due to a deteriorating disease condition -- excessive flaking and scaling -- that caused embarrassment on the job; and one placebo patient discontinued after experiencing facial contact dermatitis due to hair chemicals. Three patients discontinued due to potential side effects (placebo: nausea, flu-like symptoms; active: stomach problems). Twenty-nine patients (ten active males, six active females, six placebo males, and seven placebo females) completed the 10-week blinded portion of the study. Twenty-one patients (eight active males, three active females, five placebo males, and five placebo females) completed the entire 20-week study.

Efficacy

Overall, the active treatment group responded favorably to therapy throughout the entire 10-week blinded dosing period. See Figure 1 for graphic summary.

[FIGURE 1 OMITTED]

A significant difference in percent improvement in SASI between the placebo and active groups was detected at 10 weeks (p=0.0302) (Table 3). At this point, the seborrhea disease state for the active group had improved an average of 38.5 percent while the placebo group's condition worsened (average of -10.82%)

In order to verify the above results, a paired t-test was used to compare the responses of patients in the placebo group before (when on placebo medication) and after crossover to active medication (Table 4).

A significant improvement in seborrheic disease state due to the active treatment after crossover did not occur until 10 weeks of active dosing (p=0.0035). These within-group analyses confirm the results from the blinded portion of the study that a significant improvement in seborrheic disease state occurred 10 weeks after starting active treatment. This trend is graphically represented in Figure 2.

[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]

Safety

There was no significant difference (p=0.7999) between the frequency of adverse events for the active group as compared to the placebo group (Table 5). The most frequent adverse events were stomach upset, stomach pain, and nausea, which occurred in 10.4 percent of the active treatment patients compared to 17.7 percent of the placebo patients. These adverse events were mild and infrequent.


 
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    CurtisBarker

    05/13/09 | Report as spam

    RE: Effective treatment of seborrheic dermatitis using a low d ...

    I have had psoriasis for 30+ years. I began to notice 3 years ago that, after playing guitar

    for several hours, my eyes would red up and itch. It got worse as the months went by and

    they soon began to swell and itch like poison ivy burns. It was lasting longer and longer up

    to two weeks to return to normal. I had a patch test and discovered I have become extremely

    allergic to nickel after years of regular contact. My doctor told me a slight nickel allergy

    can advance to extreme with more and more nickel contact. I changed all frets, strings and

    other hardware to from nickel to stainless steel on all my guitars. I can now play a full

    show with no ill effects from nickel. As a side benefit about six months after the the

    changes to my guitars my psoriasis is now clear.
    I found out there is allot of nickel in this world. My office chair, belt buckle, snaps on

    jeans, some door handles, tools, fixtures, glasses, dirt, golf club shafts, key rings,

    jewelry, lots of musical instruments, and many many other things. This substance should be

    outlawed. If you have psoriasis it may be a nickel/bronze allergy. My psoriasis generally

    covered my elbows, knees, and torso and was never gone until now.

    Age Event
    @10.Play guitar sometimes
    @15.Began cleaning golf clubs for my dad and his friends.
    @18.Diagnosed with psoriasis
    @19.Started playing guitar and golfing weekly
    @45.Noticed fingers itch after a gig
    @46.Noticed fingers itch and peal after a gig right wrist itch also
    @48.Eyelids slight burn and itch during a gig
    @50.Eyes swell and itch uncontrollably (discovered nickel allergy)
    Changed guitar strings and hardware and can now play.
    Avoid nickel (not a easy task) it's everywhere.
    @51.psoriasis gone for the 1st time since age 18!
    @53.Telling Somebody!

    I still come in contact with nickel once in a while and my eyes will swell and itch for 2 weeks after the contact. It is difficult to avoid nickel.

    I know several guitar players with psoriasis and have informed them of my experience.

    I play guitar for live events and half the stuff on stage is nickel and I must avoid.

    Some buildings have nickel in the air (from HVAC systems I guess) and within ten minutes my eyelids will begin to burn. I have to leave the building and wash my hands and face.

    Guitar Center is one of these buildings. When I go there I must make a plan to get in and out fast.

    I use D'Addario XLS and XL Prosteels and Ernie Ball Stainless Steel strings for electric. They take some getting use to as far as eq-ing for tone. They sound best on my fender twin, HRD, and Mesa mark III simul class and not so good on my SS amps. I use to use GHS Boomers nickel coated and those strings are pure poison to me now. I use martin silk and steel for my acoustics. They always sound old and like they need to be changed. I had to paint the latches on my guitar cases. I had to change from switchcraft to neutrik ends. Had to change frets to stainless steel. I had to change tuning keys on one of my guitars. I put a piece of electrical tape on my bridge where my right wrist rest while playing. I had to switch to graphite shafts on all my golf clubs. I no longer shake hands with other guitar/bass players. I now, never let anyone play my guitars or carry my equipment. I never touch the guitars,amps,cables,tuners,ect.. of others. The guys in my band have seen me with my red swollen shut watering eyes and understand.
    It's my understanding that Elixir strings are coated "nickel wound" strings and the coating wears off exposing you to nickel.



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