Neem oil has legitimate medicinal properties and is used to treat various skin conditions. However, the study documents a rare but real side effect: a 77-year-old man developed a permanent loss of skin pigmentation (hypopigmentation) after 6 months of repeated neem oil application. This suggests that while neem can be beneficial, repeated topical use needs caution.

This was a literature review of neem's pharmacologic and medicinal properties, plus a clinical case study of one patient who experienced an adverse reaction after prolonged neem oil use.

Funding not disclosed in abstract