Use of H-1 Antihistamine in Dermatology: More than Itch and Urticaria Control: A Systematic Review
April 2021
in “Dermatology and Therapy”
TLDR H-1 antihistamines may help with various skin conditions, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness.
The systematic review examines the potential off-label uses of H-1 antihistamines in treating a range of dermatological conditions beyond their common use for itch and urticaria. It includes 51 articles from PubMed and Embase, highlighting cases where H-1 antihistamines have been beneficial, such as in lichen planopilaris and melanoma. For example, a prospective cohort study of 21 patients and a retrospective study of 103 Chilean adults showed effectiveness of cetirizine in treating lichen planopilaris, and a retrospective cohort study of 1,253 individuals indicated that H1-antihistamines could be linked to improved melanoma survival. Additionally, cetirizine has been observed to reduce inflammation in psoriatic lesions. Despite these findings, the evidence is generally weak, with only two randomized controlled trials supporting the use of H-1 antihistamines in acne treatment. The review calls for more robust studies, such as RCTs, to confirm the efficacy of H-1 antihistamines for these dermatological disorders, although they are considered safe and cost-effective.
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