The additional effect of 5% atorvastatin shampoo in the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp: A prospective, randomised, double-blind trial
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Date
2025-04
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Publisher
Scientific Scholar on behalf of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists & Leprologists (IADVL), India.
Abstract
Background: Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a long-lasting inflammatory skin condition that predominantly impacts regions abundant in sebaceous glands, including the scalp. Objectives: To assess the efficacy and anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin as an additive treatment among SD patients. Methods: In a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial, 46 patients over 18 years old with mild to moderate scalp SD were randomly assigned to receive either 2% ketoconazole shampoo or 2% ketoconazole shampoo plus 5% atorvastatin. The severity of dermatitis was assessed based on the symptom scale of seborrheic dermatitis (SSSD), and the variables of erythema, scaling, and itching, at baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention. Results: Based on our analyses, both treatment methods significantly reduced the SSSD scores. However, the average SSSD score in patients using ketoconazole shampoo plus atorvastatin decreased by an average of five points after 1 month. This reduction was comparable to the average decline of 3.5 points observed in the group using ketoconazole shampoo alone. Specifically, the severity of dermatitis, as assessed by the SSSD score, significantly decreased by 1.92 points more, in individuals using the atorvastatin-containing shampoo compared to the comparison group (P = 0.02). Limitation: This research was conducted at a single centre which limits the validity of the findings. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that shampoo containing atorvastatin provides a statistically significant effect compared to ketoconazole shampoo alone, indicating its potential as an alternative treatment for SD. The treatment notably alleviates symptoms associated with scaling and itching which are the common manifestations of the condition.
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Keywords
Anti-dandruff shampoos, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, atorvastatin, seborrheic dermatitis
Citation
Miri F, Sadeghi M, Abbaspour M, Samadi S, Yazdanpanah MJ.. The additional effect of 5% atorvastatin shampoo in the treatment of adult patients with mild to moderate seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp: A prospective, randomised, double-blind trial. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 2025 Apr; 91(2): 222-225