[Evaluation of skin pH in normal population and its relationship with age, sex and anatomic location]

Everal 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. 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 and 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]. 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. Age and sex and location have remarkable effects on skin pH

Comparison of skin erythema and melanin level in sulfur mustard induced chronic skin lesions and normal skin

Sulfur mustard gas is a chemical agent that has been used in many wars, especially in Iran-Iraq war. This chemical agent affects many organs including lungs, eyes and skin, causing numerous acute and chronic lesions including erythema and hyperpigmentation, respectively. This study was conducted to evaluate erythema and melanin in subjects with a history of exposure to sulfur mustard. This case-control study was done on 309 subjects. They were divided into four groups: sulfur mustard-exposed patients with skin lesions [n=87], sulfur mustard-exposed cases without current skin lesions [n=71], non sulfur mustard-exposed patients with dermatitis [n=78] and normal controls [n=74]. Erythema and melanin were measured in 4 areas [forehead, suprasternal, palm and back of hands] by Mexameter MX18 [Courage-Khazaka, Germany]. Erythema was significantly lower in suprasternal and palmar aspect of hands in sulfur mustard-exposed patients with dermatitis [P<0.05] while there was no significant difference in other areas. In terms of melanin, there was a significant difference in the dorsal aspect of hands in all four groups [P<0.05], where patients with dermatitis [both sulfur mustard exposed and normal population] had higher levels of melanin, probably due to pruritus in such areas. Forehead melanin of the normal population was also significantly lower than other three groups [P<0.05] while there was no significant difference between the melanin level of sulfur mustard exposed subjects [with or without dermatitis] and patients with dermatitis. Sulfur mustard contact can affect erythema and melanin content of the skin

[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