Dermatology and Cosmetic

Editorial Note

Mansour Nassiri Kashani

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Botulinum toxins, Masport® vs Dyston®: Comparison of efficacy, side effects and duration of effect

Amirhossein Rahimnia

Background and aim: As the use of botulinum toxin to treat glabellar lines increases, particularly in Iran, where foreign products (e.g. Dysport) are relatively expensive, it becomes important to compare the efficacy, side effects, and duration of action of two locally produced botulinum toxin brands, Masport® and Dyston®. This study seeks to assess and compare the treatment results of these two medications.

Methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective study, the medical records of 81 patients who visited Razi Dermatology Hospital for the treatment of moderate to severe glabellar lines were reviewed. Data related to patient satisfaction, duration of action, and side effects of Masport® and Dyston® botulinum toxin were collected and analyzed via a questionnaire.

Results: The mean satisfaction score was 7 for the Dyston® group and 7.7 for the Masport® group, with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P=0.142). Additionally, the mean duration of action was 3.5 months for Dyston® and 3.8 months for Masport®, with no significant difference observed. Headache was the most common side effect reported, with no other major adverse events noted. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of side effects between the two groups.

Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that both Dyston® and Masport® have similar efficacy and safety profiles. The choice between them can be primarily based on cost and patient or physician preference rather than any significant therapeutic differences. Larger studies are recommended to further validate these findings.

Clinico-histopathological analysis of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Nasim Tootoonchi

Background and Aim: The most prevalent form of leishmaniasis is cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which manifests as a single ulcerative or nodular lesion that usually heals on its own. The aims of this study were to investigate the histopathologic and clinical features of CL patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was accomplished on 70 CL patients that referred to Razi dermatology hospital in Iran, over a five-year period from 2016 to 2020. Included patients were those who were diagnosed clinically suspected patients whom their disease was confirmed through histopathology examination.

Results: The age of patients ranged from 2 to 76 years with a mean of 42.26 ± 20.86 years. The majority of patients were men (54.3%). The plaque form lesions were the most frequent type (64.3%). Respecting lesion site, face, and upper limbs were more frequent with the abundances of 47.1% and 34.3%, respectively. All of the patients had evidence of cellulitis on ultrasound. The most prevalent change of epidermis was hyperkeratosis (42.8%). Regarding dermal histopathologic changes, infiltration of lymphocytes (61.4%), plasma cells (58.6%), and histiocytes (48.6%), as well as granuloma formation (54.3%) and leishman body presence (54.3%) were the dominant changes. Some patients had atypical forms of CL as six of them had lupoid cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) and five had sporotrichoid cutaneous leishmaniasis (SCL).

Conclusion: In this study, men and those who were in middle age were more susceptible to be infected, so it suggests considering them particularly in the preventive programs. Moreover, histopathological findings of CL, including LCL and SCL, are presented. These findings may be beneficial for dermatologists and dermatopathologists to differentiate them from other cutaneous diseases.

Epidemiological trends and patterns of skin cancer in Ardabil: a decade-long cross-sectional study (2011-2021)

Firouz Amani

Background and Aim: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world, as well as skin cancer is the most common cancer among human cancers and causes great costs and economic and social harm to society. The increase in skin cancer in our country and also in Ardabil province led us to study the prevalence and epidemiological trend of 10 years of skin cancer in patients referred to the skin clinic in Ardabil 2011-2021.

Methods: In this study, 331 patients had been referred to a dermatology clinic with a diagnosis of skin cancer during 2011 to 2021. The checklists were completed based on the information in their files.

Results: Of all patients, 208 (62.8%) were male, 60.4% from Ardabil, 14.2% were in year 2016 and 46.2% were in the age group of 50-70 years. The mean age of patients was 62.5±14.7 in range 25-96 years. The most common type of skin cancer in the studied samples during ten years was related to BCC with 184 cases (55.6%) and the most studied patients were in grade 3 with 231 patients (69.8%). The most common site of skin cancer with 93 cases (28.1%) was in the nose.

Conclusion: Results showed that the trend of skin cancer in the studied samples similar to the provincial statistics did not have a constant decrease or increase trend and had a fluctuating trend. The incidence of this disease in male clients was about twice that of female clients and most cases were in high grades and BCC type.

Inequality in the use of sunscreen in adult people in Kermanshah

Farzad Jalilian

Background and Aim: Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers. Numerous studies have shown the positive effect of using sunscreen creams in preventing skin cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the inequality in the use of sunscreen cream.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among adults in Kermanshah city. Data was collected using questionnaire by interview. Concentration index and curve were used to quantify and analyze inequality in sunscreen use. The results of adjusted odds ratio and decomposition analysis for sunscreen use were also estimated.

Results: 14.39% used sunscreen. The ratio of use in men was 5.65% and in women was 21.72%. The concentration index for sunscreen use (P<0.001) was 0.344, which indicates the greater concentration of sunscreen use among the rich. The rich groups are 3.72 times more likely to use sunscreen than the poor, and people in the middle class are also 1.48 times more likely to use sunscreen. The highest share of participation in the creation of inequality in sunscreen consumption was achieved by the socio-economic status variable with 61.26%, education level with 13.23% and age with 13.02%.

Conclusion: The focus of health promotion interventions should target groups with low socio-economic status. Men and less educated people should be prioritized in the development and implementation of interventions.

The mediating role of internalized shame on the relationship between cognitive avoidance and interpersonal difficulties in predicting the quality of life in patients with vitiligo

Sara Hashemi

ackground and Aim: Vitiligo, as one of the most common skin pigment production disorders has significant psycho-social consequences for patients, so it is important to discover the variables affecting mental health in these patients. present study aims to consider mediating role of internalized shame in the relationship between cognitive avoidance and interpersonal difficulties in predicting the quality of life of vitiligo patients.

Methods: The current research was of a descriptive correlation type. The statistical population of the research consisted of all the people referred to Razi Hospital in Tehran who were suffering from vitiligo. 170 people purposefully selected based on the inclusion criteria. In this research, Sexton and Dagas cognitive avoidance, Barkham's interpersonal problems, World Health Organization's quality of life, and Cook's internalized shame questionnaires were used. Data analysis was done by Pearson correlation coefficient test, regression analysis and path analysis using SPSS 26 and PLS software.

Results: The results showed that the internal shame in the relationship between interpersonal problems and quality of life was recognized as a relative mediating variable. The path of cognitive avoidance with quality of life and internal shame as a mediating variable was not significant with a significance level of less than 0.05.

Conclusion: Mental health professionals can play an important role by considering the role of internal shame in helping vitiligo patients to overcome challenges, improve their mental health and well-being.

Nanomedicine delivery by microneedle: an emerging technology for disease treatment

Zeinab Bagheri

The limitations of common needles in drug delivery, such as pain, infection, and side effects, have become a stimulus to search for more efficient alternatives. Meanwhile, microneedles have brought new hope in skin drug delivery. These microstructures are temporarily placed in the upper layers of the skin and provide a painless and non-invasive way for drugs to pass through the skin barrier. Diversity in the design and ingredients of microneedles allows the release of a wide range of drugs with high efficiency and low side effects. On the other hand, nanomedicines are proposed as an ideal alternative due to the limitations of traditional drugs and the need for more targeted and less detrimental options. Nanomedicines are new drug delivery systems that are designed and produced in nanometer dimensions. These small particles can carry and release drugs directly to the target cells with high precision and efficiency. By reducing side effects and increasing the effectiveness of treatment, nanomedicines can play a key role in improving the quality of treatment for various diseases. Considering the unique advantages of the combination of microneedles and nanomedicines, it is an important issue to investigate different strategies for using these new systems in drug release. In this article, this issue has been investigated as well as the applications of nanomedicine transfer by microneedle in the treatment of diseases and the upcoming challenges of this emerging technology.

A review of the effects of the Curcuma zedoaria plant on the skin

Faezeh Kashanian

Curcuma zedoaria, an aromatic plant from the ginger family, has gained attention for its medicinal properties. In traditional medicine, Curcuma zedoaria has been used as an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, and analgesic. Recent scientific research has revealed significant benefits of Curcuma zedoaria for skin health. Curcuma zedoaria contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory compound that can help reduce skin inflammation, redness, and swelling. This makes Curcuma zedoaria a suitable option for treating acne, eczema, and psoriasis. Curcumin in Curcuma zedoaria also possesses strong antioxidant properties that can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Additionally, curcumin can promote collagen and elastin production, which are essential for wound healing. The antimicrobial properties of curcumin can aid in combating bacteria and fungi that cause skin infections. Curcuma zedoaria also exhibits anticancer properties that can help prevent the growth of skin cancer cells. Therefore, Curcuma zedoaria is a natural and safe plant that can help treat a wide range of skin problems. This review article explores the various benefits of Curcuma zedoaria for the skin.