Dermatology and Cosmetics
Year:2010 | Volume:1 | Issue:2|Papers Count:11

Background and Aim: several studies have been conducted to evaluate skin pH in various diseases, but there are few reports in normal population. The aim of this study was to evaluate skin pH in healthy individuals.Methods: Fifty healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The subjects were divided by age into 5 groups, i.e., 10-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50 and 51-60 years old. In each group, 5 females and 5 males were examined. A pH meter (Courage & Khazaka electronic GmbH, Germany) was used to measure pH in 8 different locations of the body (forehead, cheek, nasolabial fold, neck, forearm, dorsal side of hand, palm and leg).Results: The mean values for pH in these locations were 5.25, 5.15, 5.06, 4.90, 4.75, 4.80, 4.69, and 4.83 respectively. pH was significantly higher in women (P<0.001). There was a significant difference between skin pH in different age groups (P=0.002). The highest and lowest amounts of pH belonged to the forehead (5.26±0.68) and leg (4.69±0.40), respectively.Conclusion: Age and sex and location have remarkable effects on skin pH.

Background and Aim: There are some reports regading the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect of honey and Nigella sativa and their therapeutic effects in improvement of wound healing. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of adding honey and Nigella sativa extract compared to honey alone in patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis receiving intralesional Glucantime.Methods: In this clinical trial, 150 patients with confirmed cutaneous leishmaniasis were randomly allocated into two groups. One group was treated with topical honey twice daily along with weekly intralesional injection of Glucantime. In the second group, patients were treated with topical honey and 60% hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract instead of honey alone. The patients were treated until complete healing of the ulcer or for maximum of 12 weeks.Results: At 12 weeks, complete cure was achieved in 61 (81.3%) of patients treated with topical honey and 60% hydroalchoholic Nigella sativa extract versus 48 (64%) in the second group (P=0.002).Conclusion: The efficacy of adjunct honey and Nigella sativa extract along with intralesional Glucantime is more than honey alone in increasing complete cure rate and decreasing the residual scar size and the required dose of Glucantime.

Background and Aim: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder involving many parts of the body including skin, nails and joints with severe negative effects on patient’s quality of life. Nail involvement is one of the most difficult involvements of this disease to treat. Psoriatic arthritis categorized in sero-negative spondilo-arthropaties with some deforming characteristics. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between psoriatic arthritis and nail involvement based on standard psoriatic nail involvement score (NAPSI).Methods: Psoriatic patients visiting dermatology clinic of Razi hospital were selected. Patients with arthritis enrolled as the case group while patients that had no joint involvement participated in control group. After matching, demographic data of both groups as well as NAPSI score and nail involvement characteristics collected through special questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS version 14.Results: A total of 30 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 75 patients without arthritis were enrolled the study. Analysis of collected data demonstrated that nail involvement among patients with psoriatic arthritis (mean NAPSI score=46) was more common and severe than patients without joint involvement (mean NAPSI score=9.23) (P<0.05).Conclusion: It seems that there is a significant difference between psoriatic patients presenting with or without arthritis and presence of arthritis probably can determine occurrence and extension of nail involvement.

Background and Aim: Sarcoidosis is a non-caseous granulomatous disease that can involve several organs such as lung, kidney, liver, heart and skin. In systemic sarcoidosis, skin lesions occur in 20-35% of patients. Cutaneous sarcoidosis with no systemic involvement was found in about 25% of patients. Mutation within Butyrophilin-like 2 (BTNL2) gene, rs2076530 was reported in systemic sarcoidosis. However, there is no report of evaluation of mutation in BTNL2 gene with the diagnosis of skin sarcoidosis.Methods: In this study ten patients with skin sarcoidosis were evaluated for the mutation of rs2076530 allele in exon 5 of BTNL2 gene. This assessment was performed by the single strand conformation polymerase chain reaction (SSCP-PCR) in which the existing mutations with positive shift were deteced using directl sequence analysis. Data from sequence analysis were evaluated and blusted by means of Choroms computer software.Results: Our results showed the BTNL2 G-A transition of rs2076530 in seven patients and three patients were normal.Conclusion: This pilot study concludes the presence of a mutation at rs2076530 in exon 5 of BTNL2 gene in patients with skin sarcoidosis. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the role of this finding.

Backgound and Aim: Skin cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in Yazd city. Childhood and adolescense is an important time for preventing the skin cancers. The aim of this study was to survey the role of appearance concern with skin cancer prevention behavior based on protection motivation theory.Methods: Participants in this cross- sectional study were 360 female students from 4 high schools in Yazd city. Data were gathered by using self-reporting questionnaires and were analyzed using SPSS software applying ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression tests.Results: Using Pearson's correlation test, a statistically significant correlation between the appearance concern with perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, response efficacy, protection motivation and behaviors was found (P<0.01). The perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self- efficacy, response efficacy, protection motivation, response costs and appearance concern could predict 0.56 of the behaviors and perceived susceptibility was the strongest predictor (beta=0.120). Also, protection motivation could predict behavior (41%).Conclusion: Results of this study support the effectiveness of protection motivation theory variables and the role of appearance concern for prediction of skin cancer prevention behaviors in participants.

Backgound and Aim: One important limitation of random pattern skin flap in plastic surgery is the necrosis of distant parts of the flap resulting from ischemia. This effect cause unwanted increase in the costs and hospitalization. Previously, large number of factors has been evaluated to decrease the flap necrosis. In present study we used two drugs. Main reason was their mechanism of action that seems to be similar to preconditioning pathways.Methods: Fifty-six male rats were divided into four groups. In two groups 5% minoxidil or 5% azelaic acid were applied topically to the flap area before flap elevation. In some rats of minoxidil treated group, a non selective ATP sensitive potassium channel (KATP) blocker, glibenclamide (0.3mg/kg) was injected i.p. to evaluate the role of this channel in action. In azelaic acid treated rats, some were selected for evaluation of the role of nitric oxide and therefore L-NAME (20 mg/kg), a non-selective iNOS inhibitor, was administered. Seven days after operation, the extent of flap necrosis was calculated.Results: Topical minoxidil or azelaic acid significantly recused necrotic area of skin flap to 42% (P<0.05) and 34% (P<0.01), respectively. Combination of minoxidil and azelaic acid was the most effictive intervantion on reducing of necrotic area to 26%. Glibenclamide abolished protective effect of minoxidil (P<0.001) and L-NAME inhibited the effect of azelaic acid on skin flap survival (P<0.05). Both L-NAME and glibenclamide completely inhibited the effect of combination topical therapy.Conclusion: Present study suggested the role of KATP channels on minoxidil pathway and NO on L-NAME pathway of preserving skin flap survival. It seems that there is an overlap between the two pathways; however precise mechanism remained to be determined.

Multiple surgical methods are available for the management of malignant melanoma. Often, these methods have limitations in terms of the ability of obtaining margin clearance in the context of an appropriate cosmetic outcome. This article, briefly reviews the use of different simple and excisional techniques as well as that of Mohs micrographic in the surgical management of malignant melanomas.

Pulse Dye Laser (PDL) is mainly used to treat vascular lesions but several studies performed in different research centers have shown the efficacy of this safe laser in the treatment of non-vascular lesions as well. The aim of this study was to review, sum up and summarize these studies.PDL is a known alternative for cryotherapy in the treatment of some viral lesions such as periungual warts and molluscum contagiosum. The effect of this laser in the management of inflammatory lesions is not yet known and there have been controversial results. PDL has a very little effect on these dematoses and it is limited to the lesions with a clear vascular component, such as psoriasis and acne. Finally, regarding collagen remodeling and its usage in rejuvenation and in the treatment of hypertrophic scars, keloid and striae, the results from various studies are different and while they confirm its possible effect, more studies have to be conducted in order to determine appropriate treatment parameters.