Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
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Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 59
To investigate the efficacy and tolerability of hamamelis ointment (Hametum Wund- und Heilsalbe, Spitzner Pharmaceuticals, Ettlingen, Germany) in comparison to dexpanthenol for the treatment of skin disorders in children.
In an observational study, children (aged 27 days to 11 years) with minor skin injuries, diaper dermatitis or localised inflammation of skin were randomised to receive either hamamelis or dexpanthenol ointment in a 3 to 1 ratio. Baseline and post-treatment assessments compared the total scores of signs and symptoms for each diagnosis group. Physicians and parents were asked for a global assessment of efficacy and tolerability of the respective treatments at the end of therapy.
A total of 309 children were treated (hamamelis n = 231; dexpanthenol n = 78). The treatment groups showed comparable baseline characteristics. In all three diagnosis groups the efficacy of hamamelis and dexpanthenol was evident by a statistically significant and clinically relevant decrease in total scores from baseline to end-point (P < 0.0001 for each group, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Descriptive advantages for hamamelis were observed for a number of parameters and diagnosis groups. Overall, the results for both treatment groups were similar and no statistically significant differences occurred. Both treatments were well tolerated. The tolerability rating was ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ for 99.1% (physicians) and 98.2% (parents) for hamamelis and 97.4% and 92.3% for dexpanthenol.
The efficacy and tolerability of hamamelis ointment for the treatment of skin disorders in children up to the age of 11 years were comparable to those observed with dexpanthenol.
