초록
Objectives : This study was designed to identify the possibility of aroma oils as the complementary medical goods specially for the effects of aromatheraphy on xerosis cutis. Materials and Methods : The participants were 23 adult patients and all participants of this study use aroma oils which is known to effect on xerosis cutis. The subjects consist of voluntary patients with xerosis cutis in Seong-So Hospital in Andong Kyoungbuk, Korea. From April 1st to April 30th, 2004 for 4 weeks, the subjects massaged aroma oils on itching parts or the whole body. Aroma oils were Lavender, Losemary, Jasmine and blended drop by drop per 10ml jojoba oil which used a carrier oil. Skin pH was measured with a skin pH meter(Model : HI98110, Se-Chang instruments, made in Portuga. After 4weeks using aroma oils, the participants answered questions about the feeling of satisfaction with aroma oils. Results : Changes in the physiological indices. The mean deviation of skin pH was $5.58{\pm}0.47$ points before using aroma oils and $5.53{\pm}0.45$ points after 2 weeks, no statistical significance was found(p=0.221). MD was $5.36{\pm}0.41$ points after 4 weeks using aroma oils, which was statistically significant decrease of 0.22 points(p=0.001) Changes on the Pruritus Score Scale. A modified scale of the Pruritus Score Scale(Duo, 1987) was used to measure the severity, location, frequency, and the inconveniences of daily life due to prurius. The maximum scale of severity was 4 points, the full marks of location was 2 points, the full marks of frequency was 3 points, the full marks of inconveniences of daily life due to pruritus was 3 points. The scores ranged from 0 to 12, with 12 indicating the most severe pruritus. There was no statistical difference in severity and frequency score at 4 weeks later(severity p=0.097, frequency p=0.633). A statistically significant difference was found in the score of location and the inconveniences of daily life due to pruritus(each p=0.003). Conclusion : Generally speaking, the patient suffering from renal itch is the higher than normal in skin pH levels. that means to show alkaline condition of skin surface. In some case in this study, skin pH levels was rather lower than normal levels when measured actually patients suffering from renal itch by skin pH meter. But in this study post-test skin pH levels decreased, showing the contribution of aromathrapy to acidic condition of skin surface in suffering from renal itch. It seems to be some help to cure a pruritus and also have no ill effects on aroma oils.
