In reply
In reply to Professor Kalish's questions, patients were interviewed in a dedicated clinic for the study. After consent, evaluation and photography were performed, identical instructions were given by the aromatherapist, and randomization was carried out by giving every alternate subject the active treatment (alternating with placebo base oil/no essential oils). Thus there could be no selection bias; treatment was both random and blind. Table 1 details disease duration in active and control groups.