title: Randomised controlled trial of topical kanuka honey for the treatment of rosacea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the efficacy of topical 90% medical-grade kanuka honey and 10% glycerine (Honevo) as a treatment for rosacea.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial with blinded assessment of primary outcome variable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient primary healthcare population from 5 New Zealand sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  138 adults aged ≥ 16, with a diagnosis of rosacea, and a baseline blinded Investigator Global Assessment of Rosacea Severity Score (IGA-RSS) of ≥ 2. 69 participants were randomised to each treatment arm. 1 participant was excluded from the Honevo group, and 7 and 15 participants withdrew from the Honevo and control groups, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were randomly allocated 1:1 to Honevo or control cream (Cetomacrogol), applied twice daily for 8 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants who had a ≥ 2 improvement in the 7-point IGA-RSS at week 8 compared to baseline. Secondary outcomes included change in IGA-RSS and subject-rated visual analogue score of change in severity (VAS-CS) on a 100 mm scale (0 mm 'much worse', 100 mm 'much improved') at weeks 2 and 8.
  
  
  RESULTS
  24/68 (34.3%) in the Honevo group and 12/69 (17.4%) in the control group had a ≥ 2 improvement in IGA-RSS at week 8 compared to baseline (relative risk 2.03; 95% CI 1.11 to 3.72, p=0.020). The change in IGA-RSS for Honevo compared to control at week 2 minus baseline was -1 (Hodges-Lehman estimate, 95% CI -1 to 0, p=0.03), and at week 8 minus baseline was -1 (Hodges-Lehman estimate, 95% CI -1 to 0, p=0.005). The VAS-CS at week 2 was 9.1 (95% CI 3.5 to 14.7), p=0.002, and at week 8 was 12.3 (95% CI 5.7 to 18.9)¸ p<0.001 for Honevo compared to control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Honevo is an effective treatment for rosacea.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This trial was registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000004662.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5327-3027
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Braithwaite
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fingleton
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Janwillem
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kocks
authors.affiliation: Clinical Horizons, Tauranga, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Corin
authors.affiliation: Clinical Horizons, Tauranga, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.affiliation: Papamoa Pines Medical Centre, Tauranga, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Davitt
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.affiliation: Cameron Medical Clinic, Tauranga, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tofield
authors.affiliation: Optimal Clinical Trials, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Barney
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holliday
authors.affiliation: University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weatherall
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beasley
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005990:Glycerol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006722:Honey; D006801:Humans; D031648:Kunzea; D008875:Middle Aged; D012393:Rosacea / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D063465:Skin Cream; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005990:Glycerol
keywords: Kanuka honey; Rosacea; randomised controlled trial