Natural Products for Skin Disease

Utilization and Evidence

Gerard Bodeker

Professor, Dept. of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, USA

& Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, UK

Utilization studies indicate that the majority of dermatology patients globally want information and recommendations on natural products to incorporate into their treatment regimen, most frequently for psoriasis, eczema/dermatitis, allergies, acne and hair loss. Wound healing is an additional area where natural products show promise. A growing body of evidence highlights those treatments that work and those that do not. Safety issues include plant toxicity, herb-drug interactions and adulteration of herbal products with pharmaceuticals.