Effects of chemical straighteners on the hair shaft and scalp

Abstract Background The effects of chemical straighteners on the scalp and hair shaft are not fully known, although such substances are widely used. Hair straightening became popular in Brazil with the use of formaldehyde and its derivatives, despite the prohibition by the current legislation. Objective To identify changes in hair shaft and scalp caused by the use of chemical straighteners. Methods A search was performed using keywords in three databases from 03/16/2020 to 05/20/2020, with publications between the years 2000 to 2020. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 33 articles were selected for review. Results In some studies, hair relaxers were associated with eczema, desquamation, pain, burns, and inflammation in the scalp. Hair loss, damage to the shaft, alteration in the color of the hairs and in the composition of their amino acids were observed. Findings are variable across the studies. Study limitations The search was restricted to three databases, in two languages, different study designs were accepted. Conclusions Straightening techniques can have side effects, including scalp inflammation, damage to the shaft, and hair loss. Its long-term effects remain unknown and further studies are necessary.

Frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus: diagnosis and therapeutic challenge

Abstract Frontal fibrosing alopecia is a variant of lichen planopilaris with marginal progressive hair loss on the scalp, eyebrows and axillae. We report a case of frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planus pigmentosus in a postmenopausal woman, that started with alopecia on the eyebrows and then on the frontoparietal region, with periocular and cervical hyperpigmentation of difficult management. The condition was controlled with systemic corticosteroid therapy and finasteride. Lichen planus pigmentosus is an uncommon variant of lichen planus frequently associated with frontal fibrosing alopecia in darker phototipes. It should be considered in patients affected by scarring alopecia with a pattern of lichen planopilaris and areas of skin hyperpigmentation revealing perifollicular hyperpigmentation refractory to multiple treatments. This case illustrates diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in face of scarring alopecia and perifollicular hyperpigmentation.

Leprosy in a University Hospital in Southern Brazil

AbstractBACKGROUND:Leprosy is an infectious disease that may lead to irreversible nerve damage, compromising patient's quality of life and leading to loss of working years.OBJECTIVES:To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients followed at a University Hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study, based on a review of medical records. We studied the clinical and epidemiological features of patients with leprosy monitored at the Hospital de Clínicas of the Federal University of Paraná between January 2005 and January 2010.RESULTS:The mean age was 47.51, while 35.94% of patients were aged 41-60. The male:female rate was 1.8:1. The most prevalent occupations were: retired, students or rural workers. Patients came mainly from Curitiba or nearby areas, but there were also patients from the countryside. The mean diagnostic delay was 24.57 months. Multibacillary forms prevailed, with the lepromatous variety being the most common, closely followed by the borderline type. Neural enlargement was found in more than 50% of the patients and 48.44% of them developed reactional states. Hemolysis was the most commonly detected drug side effect. Initial functional evaluation was possible in 70% of patients, 55% of whom had disabilities upon diagnosis. The most prevalent associated disease was hypertension.CONCLUSIONS:This study showed an important diagnostic delay and a high rate of sequelae in this specific population. Brazil is one of the few remaining countries that has not yet eradicated leprosy and it is important to improve health policies in order to prevent sequelae and achieve eradication.

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp successfully treated with oral prednisone and topical tacrolimus / Dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo tratada com sucesso com prednisona oral e tacrolimus topico

Erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp is a rare inflammatory disorder of the scalp, affecting elderly patients after local trauma and leading to scarring or cicatricial alopecia. Case Report: An elderly female patient complained of painful pustules on the parietal region bilaterally with progressive enlargement and ulceration. A biopsy suggested erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp and the patient was treated with prednisone 40 mg/day and 0.1% topical tacrolimus. After 10 weeks complete closure of the eroded areas was observed and a stable scarring alopecia developed.

A dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo é uma doença inflamatória rara do couro cabeludo, de ocorrência preferencial em pacientes idosos após trauma local e com evolução para alopecia cicatricial. O caso relatado é de uma paciente idosa feminina que iniciou com pústulas dolorosas em região parietal bilateral com aumento das lesões e exulceração local. Após o diagnóstico histológico de dermatose pustular erosiva do couro cabeludo, foi iniciada prednisona 40 mg/dia e tacrolimus 0,1% tópico. Após 10 semanas evoluiu com cicatrização completa das áreas erosadas e alopecia cicatricial.

Criopeeling para tratamento de fotodano e ceratoses actínicas: comparação entre nitrogênio líquido e sistema portátil / Cryopeeling for treatment of photodamage and actinic keratosis: liquid nitrogen versus portable system

FUNDAMENTOS: O criopeeling utiliza a crioterapia difusa não somente nas lesões de ceratose actínica, mas em toda a pele fotodanificada. OBJETIVOS: Comparar dois métodos de criopeeling (nitrogênio líquido e sistema portátil de éter dimetílico, propano e isobutano) quanto à eficiência no tratamento de ceratoses actínicas, tolerabilidade do paciente, preferência do paciente e do pesquisador e resultado estético. MÉTODOS: Dezesseis pacientes (n=16) com múltiplas ceratoses actínicas nos antebraços foram submetidos ao criopeeling com nitrogênio líquido em um dos antebraços e com o sistema portátil no outro, randomicamente. RESULTADOS: No tratamento das ceratoses actínicas, o nitrogênio líquido obteve 74 por cento de eficiência e o sistema portátil, 62 por cento (p=0,019). A média da escala visual analógica (0-10) foi 5,7±1,61 com o nitrogênio líquido e 4,3±1,44 com o sistema portátil (p=0,003). Não houve diferença estatística entre os métodos quanto à preferência do paciente e do pesquisador. Na análise das fotos, observou-se melhora do aspecto da pele nos dois tratamentos (p<0,001). Com o nitrogênio líquido, em 62,5 por cento das vezes houve algum grau de melhora; com o sistema portátil, em 52 por cento (p>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: A técnica de criopeeling pode ser uma opção no tratamento de fotodano. O sistema portátil pode ser uma alternativa interessante na prática clínica, com boa tolerância e resultados aceitáveis no tratamento de ceratoses actínicas.

BACKGROUND: Cryopelling uses diffuse cryotherapy not only on lesions of actinic keratosis but all over the photodamaged skin. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare two cryopeeling methods (liquid nitrogen- LN and portable system - PS) and demonstrate their efficiency in the treatment of actinic keratoses, patient tolerance, researcher and patient preference and aesthetic results. METHODS: Sixteen patients (N = 16) with multiple actinic keratoses on the forearms were subjected to cryopeeling with LN on one of the forearms and PS on the other, randomly. RESULTS: In the treatment of actinic keratoses, LN obtained 74 percent efficiency and PS, 62 percent (p = 0.019). The mean visual analogue scale (0-10) was 5.7 ± 1.61 with LN and 4.3 ± 1.44 with PS (p = 0.003). There was no significant statistical difference between the two methods in terms of researcher and patient preference. An analysis of the photos showed improvement of the skin appearance with both treatments (p <0.001). Treatment with LN obtained some degree of improvement in 62.5 percent of the cases, while treatment with PS obtained some degree of improvement in 52 percent of the cases (p> 0.05). Discussion: Treatment with the PS showed better tolerance, but was less efficient than LN. Although LN has been the preferred method, there was no statistical difference between the methods. CONCLUSIONS: The cryopeeling technique may be an option in the treatment of photodamage. The PS can be an interesting alternative in clinical practice with good tolerance and acceptable results in the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Porocarcinoma écrino: relato de quatro casos e revisão da literatura / Eccrine porocarcinoma: report of four cases and literature review

Porocarcinoma écrino é um tumor de pele raro derivado do acrossiríngeo. Quatro casos de porocarcinoma écrino são estudados. Os pacientes tinham idade entre 49 e 64 anos, sendo dois homens e duas mulheres. O tempo de crescimento dos tumores variou de um a 20 anos. As lesões mediam de 1,2 x 2 a 4 x 5 cm e se localizavam nas extremidades ou na face. Dois pacientes apresentavam carcinoma basocelular em sítios diferentes do porocarcinoma écrino. Duas das biópsias foram previamente descritas como poroma écrino; entretanto, malignidade foi observada em todos os casos após excisão ampla. Portanto, em toda biópsia de pele compatível com poroma écrino, deve-se considerar a possibilidade de malignidade.

Eccrine porocarcinoma is an extremely rare skin tumor derived from the acrosyringium. Four cases of eccrine porocarcinoma are described, two males and two females, aged from 49 to 64 years. Tumors grew in an interval of one to 20 years. Lesions ranged from 1.2 x 2 cm to 4 x 5 cm and were on limbs or face. Two patients had basal cell carcinoma in a site different from the eccrine porocarcinoma. Two biopsies were described as eccrine poroma. Malignancy was observed in all cases after wide excision. Therefore, eccrine porocarcinoma should always be considered after a biopsy compatible with eccrine poroma.

Lipoidoproteinose - relato de dois casos / Lipoid proteinosis - a report of two cases

A lipoidoproteinose (doença de Urbach-Wiethe) é doença autossômica recessiva rara, caracterizada pela deposição progressiva de substância hialina na pele, membranas mucosas e órgãos internos. Clinicamente, os pacientes apresentam lesões papulonodulares na face, com áreas de infiltração difusa da pele principalmente nos joelhos, cotovelos e mãos; a língua apresenta consistência firme. Infiltração da laringe produz rouquidão que pode estar presente já ao nascimento. Os autores relatam dois casos dessa doença acometendo indivíduos da mesma família (irmãos)

Síndorme dos anticorpos antifosfolipédeos / Antiphospholipid antibody sindrome

A síndrome dos anticorpos antifosfolipídeos (Saaf) está associada a diversas manifestações clínicas; trombose venosa e arterial, abortos de repetição e trombocitopenia estão entre as principais. Sinais e sintomas dermatológicos ocorrem em até 41 por cento dos casos. A síndrome é evidenciada pela detecção no plasma de anticorpo anticoagulante lúpico (AACL) e/ou anticorpo anticardiolipina (AAC), genericamente denominados anticorpos antifosfolipídeos (AAF). Os autores relaram um caso de Saaf primária em uma paciente jovem apresentando úlcera crônica na panturrilha esquerda, dois abortos espontâneos no primeiro trimestre, quatro episódios de trombose venosa profunda (TVP) nos membros inferiores, livedo reticular, AACL e AAC positivos. A profilaxia dos eventos trombóticos com ácido acetil salicílico não foi efetiva. O uso contínuo de cumarínicos evitou novos episódios de trombose venosa profunda; nesse caso, porém, não houve cicatrização da úlcera

Síndrome dos anticorpos antifosfolipídios: revisão bibliográfica / Antiphospholipid antiboody syndrome: literature review

A síndrome dos anticoropos antifosfolipídios (SAAF) está associada a diversas manifestações clínicas: trombose venosa e arterial, abortos espontâneos de repetição e trombocitopenia entre as principais. Sinais e sintomas dermatológicos, em geral, precoces, ocorrem em até 41 por cento dos casos. A síndrome é evidenciada pela detecção do plasma de anticorpo anticoagulante lúpico (AACL) e/ou anticorpo anticardiolipina (AAC), genericamente denominado anticorpos antifosfolipídios (AAF). Esses anticorpos foram incialmente detectados em associação com a sífilis e o lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES)