Dermatology and Cosmetics
Year:2011 | Volume:2 | Issue:3|Papers Count:10

Background and Aim: Anti-inflammatory and hypopigmenting effects of topical tretinoin and alpha-hydroxy acids have been documented. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of 0.05% tretinion cream with 7% alphahydroxy acid in the treatment of ephelides.Methods: In this clinical trial 80 patients with ephelides were selected and allocated into two groups. One group was treated with 0.05% tretinoin cream every other night. The other group was treated with 7% alpha-hydroxy acid cream in the same manner. Both groups were treated with antisolar creams and followed every month for 5 months.Results: After 5 months excellent therapeutic response was achieved in 3 (7.5%) of patients who were treated with 0.05% tretinoin cream compared to 8 (20%) in alpha-hydroxy acid cream. Good therapeutic response was observed in 20 (50%) of tretinoin group versus 16 (40%) in alpha-hydroxy acid group. Patient's satisfaction from treatment was consistent with evaluation by dermatologists (P=0.384 and P=0.132).Conclusion: Both 0.05% tretinoin cream and 7% alphahydroxy acid cream are equally efficient in the treatment of ephelides.

Background and Aim: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, pruritic skin disease more common in infancy and childhood. Emollients, topical corticosteroids, and avoidance of irritating factors are the mainstay of its treatment, but fear of side effects has limited the use of topical corticosteroids. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical tacrolimus 0.03% ointment in the treatment of AD.Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, clinical trial, 76 patients with AD older than 2 years were randomly allocated in two groups and treated with either tacrolimus 0.03% ointment (Abu-Rayhan Co., Iran) or placebo, twice a day for 6 weeks. Responses to treatment were compared every 2 weeks using SCORAD.Results: Twenty-nine patients in tacrolimus group and 26 in placebo group completed the trial. The reduction in SCORAD after 2 and 4 weeks in tacrolimus group was significantly higher than placebo group (P<0.05). The frequency of treatment-induced pruritus and burning sensation was similar in both groups but erythema was more observed in the placebo group (P<0.05).Conclusion: Tacrolimus 0.03% ointment is more effective than placebo in the treatment of AD.

Background and Aim: Pruritus is one of the most disabling complications in patients with chronic renal failure that have negative effect on patients’ quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the uremic pruritus and its associated factors in hemodialysis patients referred to the dialysis centers in Golestan Province.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all 375 patients referred to eight dialysis centers in Golestan Province were selected via census sampling method. Data were gathered by using demogeraphic and Yosipovitch pruritus questionnaires. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software through conducting t and chi square tests.Results: The mean ± standard deviation of patients' age was 48.36±13.27 years and 51.2% of patients were male. One hundred and eighty one (48.3%) patients had uremic pruritus. The lowest and highest frequencies of pruritus among surveyed centers were 37.9% and 57.1%, respectively. 60.2% of patients had localized pruritus and the most common location was back (68.8%). There was a statistically significant correlation between uremic pruritus with number of dialysis session (P<0.001) and serum level of phosphorus (P<0.001).Conclusion: The results indicated that uremic pruritus is still one of the most common problems in hemodialysis patients. Therefore it seems necessary providing ways to eliminating or reducing the problem.

Background and Aim: Diabetic neuropathy occurs in about 50% of individuals with long-standing type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of the study was to detect sensory neuropathy in diabetic patients at risk for foot ulceration, using monofilament and neuropathic symptoms in Diabetes clinic of Kashan University of Medical Sciences from 2008 to 2010.Methods: Three-hundred and fifty-two diabetic patients were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Firstly patients were surveyed with a questionnaire concerning their subjective symptoms. The neuropathic symptoms were assessed using a quantitative neuropathy symptom score. Then the patients were examined by 5.07/10g monofilament. Data description and analysis were performed by reporting mean ± standard deviations, proportions, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and conducting chi square and kappa tests.Results: 15.6% of patients had sensory neuropathy using monofilament test. 19.4% of men and 14.3% of women had neuropathy (OR=1.4, P=0.24). The mean duration of diabetes in patients with neuropathy was longer than patients without neuropathy (9.96 vs 9.68 year, P>0.05). 72.7% of patients with history of foot ulcer had neuropathy (OR=16.6, P<0.001). According to neuropathic symptoms 17.6% of patients had no neuropathy, 12.8% had mild neuropathy, 41.8% had moderate neuropathy and 27.8% had severe neuropathy.Conclusion: Screening with monofilament test is necessary for all diabetic patients to prevent diabetic foot ulcer development, without considering neuropathic symptoms.

Background and Aim: Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing disease of the skin with psychological and somatic impacts that leads to substantial effects on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the quality of life in psoriatic patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 97 psoriatic patients in dermatology and PUVA clinic in Afzalipour hospital in Kerman from March 2009 to March 2010 Quality of life and disease severity were Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). Data analysis was done through conducting, chi-square and one-way AVONA tests and P<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: 55.7% of patients were male and mean age of them was 35.3 years (range: 16-75 years). Psoriasis vulgaris was the most common type (76.3%), and arthropathy was seen in 3.1% of patients. The mean duration of the disease was 21 months (range: 11 months-30 years).The mean of DLQI score was 14.1(range: 1-29) and mean PASI score was 18.6 (range: 0.6-66.6). DLOI score correlated with severity of disease (PASI), marital status, and type of the disease (P<0.05).Conclusion: Psoriasis has a severe negative impact on the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, supportive social and spiritual efforts are necessary to decrease these effects.

Hyaluronic acid (HA), the main and most important constituent of extracellular matrix, is a glycosaminologycan with water-absorbing capacity found in large amount in growing and repairing tissues. One of the main causes of skin problems, particulary in aging skin, is HA deficiency. More than half of the body HA is in the skin and is necessary for the maintenance of internal matrix and several cellular functions. Filler gels containing HA are used to repair skin defects. As these substances are derived from animals and bacteria, not the human, may cause skin reactions and have short half-life. So efforts to maintain and/or increase HA secretion from skin fibroblasts are important in the prevention and treatment of skin aging.

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a group of dermatological conditions characterized by development of bullae and ulcers following trivial trauma. One of the most important complications of EB is squamous cell carcinoma. While occurance of skin squamous cell carcinoma is common in epidermolysis bullosa, its occurence on mucosal surface is rare. Herein, we report two members of a family who developed squamous cell carcinoma on their esophagus and tongue.