Exploring the efficacy and safety of topical Jaungo application in patients with atopic dermatitis: A pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

•Jaungo is topical herbal agents most widely used in tradition Korean Medicine, especially used for skin dryness and allergic skin diseases.•Jaungo and its three carrier oils may have the potential therapeutic effect in patients with chronic-phase AD, especially on their dry skin.•This is the first study that has explored the potential therapeutic effect of Jaungo as a complementary therapy for AD.•However, further large study with adjusting placebo ingredients is needed to confirm the effectiveness of Jaungo in patients with AD. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing eczematous skin disease with an increasing prevalence. In Korea, Jaungo is a traditional medicinal ointment, which is commonly used for treating skin wounds. Thus, we aim to explore the basic clinical efficacy and safety data for Jaungo in patients with AD. This study was a pilot randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial with three groups. The participants in treatment group 1 applied Jaungo to the lesion twice a day for 3 weeks. Those in treatment group 2 applied Jaungo and placebo ointments to the lesion once a day for 3 weeks. Those in the placebo group applied placebo ointments to the lesion twice a day for 3 weeks. The Eczema Area and Severity Index and SCORing Atopic Dermatitis scores, transepidermal water loss value, and Dermatology Life Quality Index score were assessed. The outcomes used to evaluate safety were the Draize score, blood test results, and expert opinion. In total, 28 patients (82.4%) completed the study. During the study, significant decline of EASI scores in treatment group 2 and placebo group was observed (p