Anti-inflammatory ingredients.

There is a growing public awareness and concern among individuals regarding the condition of their skin, with a concomitant desire to use natural products to treat skin conditions. The increased interest in these products has spurred scientific and clinical studies evaluating the composition and clinical usefulness of natural products in the treatment of inflammatory skin dermatoses. There are numerous natural ingredients that have been demonstrated to possess anti-inflammatory properties that make formulations containing these ingredients attractive treatment options. This article summarizes the active ingredients, anti-inflammatory properties, clinical effects, and therapeutic potential of colloidal oatmeal, feverfew, licorice, aloe vera, chamomile, and turmeric. Potential therapeutic indications include erythema induced by ultraviolet light, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, sensitive and irritated skin, drug-induced skin eruptions, and psoriasis. These products may be particularly well suited as alternatives to pharmacologic therapies in chronic conditions for which long-term use is required.