Effect of oral administration of Triphala, a polyphenol-rich prebiotic, on scalp sebum in patients with scalp seborrhea a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Although there are various therapeutic options to control oily skin, they have potential side effects and limitations especially in long-term use. Pre/probiotics may have beneficial effects in atopic dermatitis' acne, dandruff, and seborrhea, demonstrated by some clinical trials. This trial conducted to determine whether the herbal prebiotic Triphala is effective in reducing scalp sebum secretion in patients with scalp seborrhea. METHODS: In this 8 week patient and outcome assessor-blinded, placebo-controlled trial participants with scalp seborrhea aged 14-50 years were randomized to Triphala or placebo groups. 1 g of Triphala (standardized as 91.82 ± 0.5 mg gallic acid) or placebo (wheat flour) were administered BID. Scalp sebum levels were detected objectively using Sebumeter® sm 815, and treatment satisfaction was measured using a score between 0 and 100. [Registration no. IRCT2014070218332N1]. RESULTS: Eighty patients completed the study (40 in Triphala group and 40 in placebo group). Participants in the Triphala group experienced 25.34 scores (95% CI, 0.39-50.29: p = .047) more improvement in scalp sebum levels compared with the placebo group. The mean percentage of patients' satisfaction was 37.91 (24.88) in the Triphala group and 17.89 (25.80) in the placebo group (p = .001). CONCLUSION: Herbal prebiotic Triphala significantly reduced scalp sebum scores compared to placebo.

Effect of Oral Herbal Medicament on Scalp Seborrhea and Gastrointestinal Symptoms in a Male Patient: A Case Report.

A 32-yr-old man with a 10-yr history of scalp seborrhea referred to Skin and Stem Cell Research Center, Tehran, Iran, in 2015. He suffered from scalp seborrhea. Concurrent gastrointestinal symptoms and the changes in the clinical symptoms after consumption of the polyherbal traditional drug called Triphala are discussed. The scalp sebum was measured with a Sebumeter SM815. Gastrointestinal symptoms were followed using a valid questionnaire. After two months of treatment, scalp sebum secretion had decreased substantially. The patient also experienced remarkable improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms. Considering the positive effect of this known and safe polyherbal drug on skin sebum, it is an appropriate option for detailed large-scale clinical trials.

Evaluating the Causes of Freckle and Nevus from the Viewpoint of Iranian Traditional Medicine.

BACKGROUND: Freckles are due to an increase in the amount of dark pigments called melanin. These spots are more likely developed on the sun-exposed skin areas like the cheeks, nose, and forehead. Nevus is usually a benign melanocytic tumor and can be congenital or acquired. Due to the high influence of skin lesions on the person's appearance and quality of life, the aim of this study was to evaluate the causes of these lesions from the viewpoint of Iranian traditional medicine (ITM). METHODS: This study is a review base on Iranian traditional medicine manuscripts, including Canon of medicine, Tib-e-Akbari' Kamel-al-sanaat, Sharaholasbab and Exir-e-Aazam. After the review, subjects were analyzed and classified and all the relevant measures were deduced. RESULTS: According to humoral theory in ITM, abnormal black bile congestion in skin layers and its increased concentration causes dark color spots on the face, known as "Namash and Barash" being equivalent to freckle. Nevus formation is caused by congestion of gradually hardened and dense black bile humor in the skin after leaking through the vessels. The main cause of these problems is dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, spleen, and uterus. Human's intellectual body function called "nature" and is by default designed to eradicate this residue from the essential internal organs and the skin. CONCLUSION: Based on ITM theory, since "nature" prefers excreting residue from the main organs through the skin, the necessary step for the treatment of the skin lesion is to purge and treat the internal organs before topical treatments. In addition to this, skin tonics should be used to enhance skin reinforcement in order to prevent the recurrence of the above-mentioned condition after peeling.