A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the safety and efficacy of 0.025% capsaicin (Capsicum annuum var. longum) cream against 1% hydrocortisone cream as an anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic preparation for mosquito bites

BACKGROUND: Mosquito bite is a common dermatological complaint with various treatments but with no gold standard treatment regimen. OBJECTIVE: To compare the safety and efficacy of 0.025% capsaicin cream against 1% hydrocortisone cream and placebo as anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic preparation for mosquito bites. METHODS: Seventy-five volunteers were enrolled in the placebo-controlled trial and randomized into three treatment groups. They were exposed to laboratory-reared mosquitoes to incur bites and to apply the designated cream. Anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic effects were determined by mean lesion size, physician's global assessment, pruritus intensity score and 100mm visual analog scale. RESULTS: The mean lesion size and physician's global assessment, pruritus intensity score and visual analog scale showed no significant difference between 0.025% capsaicin and 1% hydrocortisone and they were both found to be superior to placebo (p-valueCONCLUSION: 0.025% capsaicin is comparable to 1% hydrocortisone as an anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic preparation for mosquito bites.

Childhood epidermolysis bullosa acquisita

We describe a case if a 4 year-old girl who consulted our institution because of multiple tense vesicles and bullae on the perioral area, trunk, elbows, knees and dorsum of hands and feet. Biopsy of the lesion revealed subepidermal cleft with few ill-defined acantholytic cells and patchy areas of vacuolar degeneration showing infiltration with numerous neutophils and occasional eosinorphils. There was linear deposition of C3, IgG and IgA on basement membrane zone. The diagnosis was epidemolysis bullosa acquisita, IgA bullous dermatosis-like presentation. The patient was treated with topical corticosteroid for 1 1/2 months with complete resolution of lesions and appearance of milia on the perioral area and dorsum of hands and feet. Patient remained in remission.