Evaluation of the efficacy of salvia officinalis lotion in treatment of palmoplantar hyperhydrosis

Treatment modalities in palmoplantar hyperhydrosis [PPH] are limited to iontophoresis and topical application of aluminium chloride salts that the latter complicated by irritant dermatitis. We have evaluated the efficacy of Salvia officinalis [Sage] 5% Lotion in treatment of PPH. Sage is a native plant in the Middle East that is cheap and freely available. This is a prospective, randomized and double-blind clinical trial. The patients with severe and symmetrical PPH were treated with topical application of Sage Lotion on the one side and placebo on the other side of the body, three times a day. The patients visited at two weeks intervals until six weeks. The overall treatment response was estimated subjectively by the patients. 35 patients were involved in this study. Both drug and placebo reduced the severity of PPH. Reduction with the drug was significantly greater than with the placebo. Mean of successful treatment percent in drug treated side, after 2, 4 and 6 weeks were 29.7%, 33.2% and 37% respectively versus in placebo treated side were 13.6%, 14.5% and 14.8% [P<0.001]. The 5% Salvia officinalis Lotion is a safe drug in treatment of PPH with moderate efficacy

Topical finasteride in hirsutism: a double blind randomized trial on adult women

Finasteride partially blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone through inhibition of 5 alpha reductase in hair follicles. Finasteride cream can penetrate to dermis to arrive at hair follicle due to its solubility. Therefore, it is expected to be used in treatment of hirsutism with less systemic adverse effects. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of finasteride cream 0.5% in management of idiopathic hirsutism. Finasteride [0.5%] and placebo creams were administered to 35 women with hirsutism on the face. Medication and placebo creams, each one was used on one side of the face in an area of excessive hair growth, which were not necessarily symmetrical. The side for the finasteride and placebo creams were chosen randomizly and blindly in 1cm 2 areas on each side of the face. Hair numbers were counted and the thickness of all hairs was also measured by micrometer and their mean was calculated, at the start of therapy and after 6 months. Statistical analysis was done in SPSS software using Paired and Student t-tests. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. The mean of hair numbers decreased at placebo-applied side from 12.20 +/- 6.15 to 10.50 +/- 4.90 [P<0.0001] and at finasteride- treated side from 11.37 +/- 6.15 to 8.47 +/- 4.62 [p<0.0001]. Mean of hair thickness at placebo side decreased from 2.92 +/- 0.84