Comparison the effects of topical application of olive and calendula ointments on Children's diaper dermatitis: A triple-blind randomized clinical trial

This study compares the effective of of topical application of olive and calendula ointments on childrens' diaper dermatitis (DD). This triple-blind clinical trial was conducted on 73 healthy children under the age of 2 years with non-severe and not infected DD, referred to a pediatric healthcare center in Tabriz, Iran. The children were assigned to 1.5% olive ointment (n = 37) and 1.5% calendula ointment (n = 39) using a random block method with the ratio of 2:2. The severity of DD in both groups was measured and compared on a six-point scale on days 0 (before the intervention) and 3, 5, and 7 after interventions. The findings releaved there was not significant stastistical difference between the olive oil and calendula groups in terms of severity of DD in the third, fifth and seventh days. No adverse effect was reported from either of the medications in this study. The external validity and consequently the ability to generalize the findings may be diminished as this study was conducted at a single site. Owing to olive ointment and calendula ointment providing the same results in the healing of DD, olive ointment can be used as an alternative case to DD.