The upper back of a woman with atopic eczema

Study on hypnotherapy, fasting and exercise for atopic eczema

Gabriele Rotter et al.

November 2022

Intermittent fasting

Psoriasis / Eczema

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, fasting with dietary adjustments and exercise in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). It was a four-arm randomized controlled trial conducted over 16 weeks. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes were made to the study protocol, including online interventions and early termination of the exercise group.

Recruitment was poor during the pandemic. The study included 20 patients, predominantly female, with different baseline characteristics in the intervention groups.

After 16 weeks, improvements in perceived itch intensity and disease severity were observed in the hypnotherapy and fasting groups compared to baseline. No serious adverse events related to the interventions were reported.

Despite the small sample size, the study suggests potential benefits of hypnotherapy and fasting in the treatment of AD and emphasizes the need for further research on their efficacy and safety.

The most important information on the study at a glance

Indications: Atopic eczema
Institution: Department of Epidemiology and Health Economics, Institute of Social Medicine, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt - Universität zu Berlin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Title: Study on the effect of hypnotherapy, intermittent fasting and exercise on atopic dermatitis
Brief description: The study shows that hypnotherapy and fasting can improve itching and the severity of atopic eczema.
Original title: Hypnotherapy, Intermittent Fasting, and Exercise Group Programs in Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Controlled Explorative Clinical Trial During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Link to the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36450119/