Prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder in medical versus nonmedical students: a questionnaire based pilot study

Objective: To prepare a dermatologic version of body dysmorphic disorder [BDD] questionnaire and to ascertain and compare the prevalence of BDD among the medical students versus general university students in Pakistani community

Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective questionnaire-based pilot study conducted at dermatology department of Nawaz Sharif Social Security Teaching Hospital affiliated with The University of Lahore. After informed consent, 400 students, half from medical college and half from non medical institutions, were interviewed with a self reporting questionnaire and evaluated for BDD by employing the clinical parameters as per DSM-5

Results: The age range of participant students was 18-26 years in both the groups and 97.5% were unmarried. In group A, 72 students were males and 128 were females while in group B, 77 were males and 123 were females. The top areas of concern in both the groups were density of scalp hair, acne and its sequelae, skin type and dark complexion of skin with female preponderance in both the groups. Although 35% students were preoccupied to some extent but the prevalence of subjective distress to the threshold of BDD was found in 5% medical students compared to 10% nonmedical students, with female dominance in both the groups

Conclusion: Our study reflects that BDD is relatively more frequent among general university students compared to medical students with overall predominance of female gender

Facial abuse of topical steroids and fairness creams: a clinical study of 200 patients

To estimate the magnitude of problem with reference to social demography, motivation and to record adverse effects of topical steroids [TCs] and fairness creams abuse on face. This study was conducted at Dermatology Department of Nawaz Sharif Social Security Teaching Hospital affiliated with University of Lahore. Patients with steroidal rosacea reporting to the investigator were asked about their current use of topical steroids and fairness creams and observations recorded. Out of 200 patients studied 152 [76%] were females and 48 [24%] males, the majority belonging to low income group from urban area. Sixty six [33%] patients used potent TCs, 100 [50%] patients used TCs in combination with various fairness creams and 34 [17%] patients used fairness creams exclusively. The main indications for these creams, in order of preference were acne, improving dark complexion and melasma. Patients were ignorant of the ingredients and the adverse effects of TCs versus fairness creams among abusers were comparable. Unwarranted cosmetic use of TCs with or without fairness creams is quite common in facial dermatoses resulting in steroidal dermatitis resembling rosacea.