Effects of Topical Arnica Gel on Post-Laser Treatment Bruises

Authors: Alonso, Delilah1; Lazarus, Melissa C.1; Baumann, Leslie1

Source: Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 28, Number 8, August 2002 , pp. 686-688(3)

Publisher: Blackwell Publishing

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content

Abstract:

background.

Claims have been made suggesting that topical arnica prevents and speeds the resolution of bruises, yet there are no well-designed placebo-controlled studies to date evaluating topical arnica's effect on bruising. objective.

To compare the efficacy of topical arnica in the prevention and resolution of laser-induced bruising. methods.

Nineteen patients with facial telangiectases were enrolled in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study and were divided into pretreatment and posttreatment groups. The pretreatment group applied arnica with vehicle to one side of the face and vehicle alone to the other side of the face twice a day for 2 weeks prior to laser treatment. The posttreatment group followed the same procedure for 2 weeks after laser treatment. On day 0, all patients were treated for facial telangiectases using a 585 nm pulsed dye laser. Bruising was assessed using a visual analog scale on days 0, 3, 7, 10, 14, and 17 by the patient and the physician. In addition, photographs taken at each of the follow-up visits were later assessed by a second physician using the visual analog scale. results.

There was no statistically significant difference between the mean scores of arnica and vehicle (P = 0.496) and the mean scores of arnica and vehicle (P = 0.359) in the pretreatment and posttreatment groups, respectively. conclusion.

No significant difference was found between topical arnica and vehicle in the prevention or resolution of bruising.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1046/j.1524-4725.2002.02011.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida

The full text article is not available for purchase.

The publisher only permits individual articles to be downloaded by subscribers.

Back to top

Key:
Free Content - Free Content
New Content - New Content
Subscribed Content - Subscribed Content
Free Trial Content - Free Trial Content
Share this item with others: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
Page Help Click here for Page Help
Shopping cart
Tools
Sign in






Need to register?
Sign up here
Text size: A | A | A | A