Inclusion criteria:
Individuals aged 12–65 years of both sexes, diagnosed with mild to moderate irritant contact dermatitis of the hands by a dermatologist, based on the Hand Eczema Severity Index (HECSI) classification system
Patients who have not received any medical treatment for hand dermatitis for at least one week prior to enrollment, and who have not used topical corticosteroids during the past week.
Patients evaluated according to Traditional Persian Medicine principles, with a comprehensive TPM history obtained at the outset of the study.
Provision of written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria:
Patients reporting a history of allergy to Althaea officinalis
Patients currently receiving other corticosteroid medications, antibiotics, or skin‑drying agents such as isotretinoin (Roaccutane).
Patients unwilling to discontinue use of these medications.
Patients with very severe hand dermatitis, with a HECSI (Hand Eczema Severity Index) score above 117, according to the classification system
Patients with uncontrolled systemic cardiovascular, respiratory, hematologic, urinary, autoimmune, infectious diseases, or diabetes mellitus.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women.