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

Laser-assisted hair removal: comparison of long-pulsed alexandrite and long-pulsed Nd: YAG lasers, individually and in combination

Laser is one of the most recent techniques which has widespread use in the treatment of many skin diseases. This technique has been successfully used to remove unwanted hairs in hirsutism. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of long-pulsed 755 nm alex and rite and long-pulsed 1064 nm Nd: YAG lasers individually and in combination for permanent hair removal. This single-blind r and omized clinical trial was conducted on 25 patients. They were treated by alex and rite or Nd: YAG or combination of them in 4 sessions with 8 weeks intervals. The treatment was applied on their medial and lateral sides of both legs. All the parameters of the systems were set on the company defaults. Subjects were evaluated 1 and 8 months after completion of the treatment. Hair count was measured by Visiomed device and digital camera photographs every session. To calculate mean hair reduction, the difference between hair count before and after treatment was divided by hair count before treatment. Pain severity, measured by Visual Analogue Scale [VAS], and side effects [bullae, scar and pigmentation changes] were recorded every session. The data were analyzed with ANOVA, post hoc Tukey and chi square tests. Fifteen patients completed the study and 10 patients were excluded due to appearance of bullae in 2 patients and refuse to continue in 8 patients. The mean hair reduction measured by Visiomed 8 months after last treatment was: 61.96 21.09, 60.03 23.40 and 68.05 21.23 percent for alex and rite, Nd: YAG and combination therapy, respectively. When digital camera photos were used for measurement of hair reduction these values were 85.99 11.62, 73.60 16.57 and 79.61 18.08 percent, respectively. The differences between the systems were not significant [ANOVA, P>0.05]. In paired comparison of the systems, no significant differences were observed either [Tukey test]. The incidence of adverse effects [hyperpigmentation] and pain severity were significantly greater in area received combination therapy [P<0.001]. Both alex and rite and Nd: YAG laser systems were effective in hair removal. In contrast, combination therapy did not have more efficacy and also caused more side effects

[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

frequency of skin allergens in patients with contact dermatitis

Eczema is one of the most widely spread inflammatory skin disorders. Contact dermatitis is an eczematous dermatitis that is produced as a result of contact with a substance in the environment. The substance can act as an irritant or allergen. Every country has allergens particular to itself. Determining the frequency of skin allergens in patients with contact dermatitis in Tehran. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, all the data about the patients with chronic contact dermatitis who were visited in a dermatology clinic in Tehran from the year 1993 to 2003 and patch tested with 23 allergens of European Standard Series [ESS] were analyzed. In this study 222 patients were surveryed. The mean age of the patients was 33.5 Years [SD=13.8]. 66.5% of the patients were females. The most common site of involvement [49%] was their hands. The mean duration of the disease was 54 months [SD=62]. Clinical diagnosis included: 59% allergic contact dermatitis, 24% irritant dermatitis, 10% atopic dermatitis, and 7% other types of dermatitis. One-hundred and forty five [65.3%] of them had at least one positive reaction. The most common allergens were: nickle sulfate 22.6%, cobalt chloride 14.5%, and fragrance mix 13.6%. Nickel was the most common contact allergen among the patients surveyed