Efficacy of Topical Flaxseed Oil on Hand Eczema: a Randomized, Triple-Blind Clinical Trial.

Background & Objective: Hand contact dermatitis, with a one-year frequency of up to 10% and a lifetime prevalence of nearly 15% in the general population, typically involves inflammation of the dermis and epidermis layers. The aim of this study was to investigate and emphasize the anti-inflammatory properties of flaxseed oil as well as its historical use in traditional medicine, which could help support its potential effectiveness in treating hand eczema and improving the quality of life of patients. Materials & Methods: The research conducted was a triple-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 68 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate eczema. The participants were assigned to receive either 1 gram of topical flaxseed oil applied twice daily or a control cream, Eucerin, over a period of four weeks. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by measuring the severity of eczema and the quality of life of the patients before and after the intervention. This assessment was carried out using the Hand Eczema Harshness Index (HECSI) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Results: Based on the gas chromatography (GC) analysis, the flaxseed oil contained 1.9 grams of linoleic acid per 100 grams of oil. There was no substantial variance in the baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the two study groups. HECSI and DLQI(14.71 ± 1.89) scores significantly improved in the flaxseed oil group compared to the control group (p=0.001). This effect was particularly pronounced among patients with mild and moderate eczema (p<0.001). Conclusion: Flaxseed oil can improve eczema indications and quality of life in contact dermatitis patients. However, further research with a larger sample size and comparison to topical steroids is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]