Background: In many ailments, Cyperus rotundus is an effective and safe treatment option. Flavonoids in the oil have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. There have been no randomized controlled trials comparing topical C. rotundus oil to the available allopathic modalities for treating post-hair removal laser side effects.
Objectives: Participants in this study were prospectively evaluated for the efficacy of C. rotundus essential oil, compared with hydrocortisone and saline, in managing pain and erythema after laser hair removal.
Methods: Eligible participants (n = 153) were randomly assigned to one of three study groups: topical C. rotundus oil (group 1), hydrocortisone (group 2), or saline (group 3). The following methods were used to assess the results: The Wong-Baker FACES Pain Scale was used to rate pain. Erythema was graded on a six-point scale: "no erythema," "slight erythema," "marked erythema," "severe erythema without vesicles," and "severe erythema with vesicles."
Results: In terms of anti-inflammatory effects, C. rotundus oil and hydrocortisone did not differ significantly (p > 0.05). However, statistically significant differences in the analgesic effect (P.05) were observed, favoring the oil.
Conclusions: Cyperus rotundus essential oil is a safe and cost-effective treatment for post-laser pain and erythema.
Keywords: Cyperus rotundus oil; erythema; hydrocortisone; laser hair removal; pain.
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