[Comparison of the efficacy of fluocinolone cream, triclocarban soap and betamethasone lotion with placebo in the treatment of paederus dermatitis]

Paederus dermatitis is an acute self-healing blistering disease caused by an insect from the genus Paederus species. Although it is a self-limited disease, it can cause disablement and suffering. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of fluocinolone cream, triclocarban [TCC] soap and betamethasone lotion in comparison with placebo in the treatment ofpaederus dermatitis. This study was a randomized single blind placebo controlled trial which was performed in Behshahr hospitals during a period of two months. Seventy-seven patients with paederus dermatitis were randomized to treatment with fluocinolone cream, TCC soap, betamethansone lotion or a placebo. The conditon of each patient was checked three times; i.e., on their first, fifth and twelfth day of receiving treatment. Finally, depending on their response to treatment, they were divided into two groups, those who fully recovered and those failing to recover. Of the 77 patients studied, 18 were treated with a placebo, 17 with betamethasone lotion, 24 with fluocinolone cream and 17 with TCC soap. Complete recovery at the end of treatment was fluocinolone 100%, betamethasone 100%, TCC 58.8% and placebo 33.3%. Significant differences were observed between two first groups and the placebo group [P=0.0001] but no significant difference was observed between TCC soap and placebo. Topical corticosteroids displayed a relative and significant improvement in paederus dermatitis

Skin lesions in 800 Iranian victims of mustard gas, 14-20 years after exposure

Mustard gas is a disabling chemical weapon and was widely used in First World War and Iraq-Iran war. Its toxic effects could be acute or chronic and they could particularly affect lungs, eyes and skin.To study the frequency of chronic complications of sulfur mustard gas in Iranian victims 14 to 20 years after exposure. This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 800 patients that were randomly selected from different provinces of Iran, who had been exposed to sulfur mustard gas during 1983 to 1988. These patients were clinically re-evaluated in 2002-2003 and laboratory tests were performed if necessary. The mean age of the patients at the time of study was 39.3 [ +/- 9.8] years. Three types of skin lesions were observed. Non-specific lesions including 39.6% xerosis, 19% pigmentary disorders, 17.4% cherry angioma, 12.7% seborrheic dermatitis, 12.2% eczema [dermatitis], 11.6% acneiform lesions, 7% tinea versicolor, 5.1% urticaria,, 3.6% vitiligo, 2.5% alopecia areata, 2% psoriasis, and 1.3% aphthous stomatitis. Specific skin lesion called mustard scar was defined according to morphology, location, history and observed in 44 [5.5%] patients. Malignant neoplasms including basal cell carcinoma, Bowen's disease, squamous cell carcinoma, mycosis fungoides and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans occurred in 9 victims [1.1%]. Mustard gas can cause acute and late-onset skin lesions. Specific lesion of mustard gas called mustard scar is the most important finding of this study

Congenital diffuse melanosis in a father and two Sons

Congenital diffuse melanosis is one of the rarest clinical manifestations of hereditary universal melanosis and only few cases have been reported all over the world. The presented case is a 54-year-old man who presented to us complaining of erythematous annular lesions on his face and neck 8 months ago. Diffuse pigmentation of his skin took our attention. According to the patient, diffuse hyperpigmentation was present at birth and there was no obvious changes up to now. His mother and sister had similar hyperpigmentation. He had two sons with a similar hyperpigmentaion, but his daughter had normal skin pigmentation. All laboratory investigation for the causes of hyperpigmentaion were reported normal and investigation for causes of secondary hyperpigmentation did not reveal any abnormality. In histopathologic assay, the erythematous lesion was reported to be discoid lupus erythematosus and the diagnosis of hyperpigmented lesion reported as congenital diffuse melanosis