Dermatology and Cosmetic

Editorial Note

Mansour Nassiri Kashani

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A comprehensive overview of pityriasis lichenoides: clinical features and treatment responses

Amirhossein Rahimnia

Background and aim: Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) is a rare papulosquamous disorder with an unknown etiology. Due to limited recent studies on this subject, the present research was conducted to describe the clinical manifestations and treatment course of these patients.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study (2019-2023) was conducted on patients diagnosed with PL at Razi Dermatology Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran confirmed by biopsy of skin lesions. Basic information was obtained from hospital records, and treatment follow-up was gathered from medical files and phone interviews with patients. Data were analyzed using R software, with a P<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 147 patients were evaluated. No significant difference was found between genders (P=0.358). The predominant subtype was PLC (91.8%), with a mean age of onset of 29.79 ± 18.73 years. The most common type of skin lesion was papules (48.4%), and generalized body involvement was the most frequent manifestation, observed in 58 patients (32.4%). The most commonly used treatment was topical corticosteroids, administered to 86 patients (52.4%). The average duration from onset to full recovery was 160.80±221.40 days. A total of 45 patients (30.6%) reported recurrent episodes of the disease. No significant association was found between treatment efficacy and gender (P=0.620), underlying conditions (P=0.293), or age (P=0.876).
Conclusion: Given the limited clinical data on patients with pityriasis lichenoides, establishing an electronic database and a national registry system for this condition is recommended.

Determinants of skin cancer prevention behaviors uptake in farmers

Farzad Jalilian

Background and Aim: Skin cancer is the most preventable type of cancer. Farmers, due to their work under the sun's ultraviolet radiation, are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the determinants of skin cancer prevention behaviors in farmers.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among farmers in the rural of Javanroud city in the west of Iran. Information was collected by questionnaire and interview. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 16 statistical software. Crude and adjusted linear regression was used to measure the determinants of skin cancer prevention behaviors.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 36.47 years. Perceived self-efficacy (ß=0.193, P=0.004) and response costs (ß=0.145, P=0.025) were the most important influencing determinants on skin cancer prevention behaviors.
Conclusion: It seems that if the development of interventions to promote skin cancer prevention behaviors among farmers focuses on promoting perceived self-efficacy and reducing response costs, it can seek useful findings in promoting skin cancer prevention behaviors.

Determining the frequency of telogen effluvium hair loss in female patients with covid-19 referred to Imam Reza hospital dermatology clinic at 2022

Majid Rostami Moghaddam

Background and Aim: Telogen effluvium (TE) is a type of diffuse hair loss that occurs 2 to 3 months after a stressful event, including a covid-19 infection. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of TE in women with covid-19.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 270 women who referred to the skin and hair clinic of Imam Reza Ardabil Hospital with complaints of hair loss. Information related to the history of covid-19 infection, hospitalization, medications, vaccination and demographic characteristics were collected. The severity of alopecia was checked by clinical examination and traction test, and the data were analyzed with SPSS software.
Results: The average age of the patients was 41 years. 61.1% had a history of hospitalization, 43.7% used antibiotics, 61.8% used corticosteroids, and 51.8% used NSAID. The severity of Covid-19 had a significant relationship with the earlier occurrence of TE (P=0.001) and the increase in the number of pulled hairs in the traction test (P=0.001). Hospitalization due to covid-19 and corticosteroid use reduced the time between illness and onset of TE symptoms. The injection of AstraZeneca vaccine was associated with an increase in the number of plucked hairs (P=0.02).
Conclusion: The severity of TE was related to the severity of covid-19, hospitalization, corticosteroid use and injection of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Epidemiology and treatment of angiokeratoma in Iranian patients: a ten-year study

Amirhossein Rahimnia

Background and Aim: Angiokeratomas are rare vascular lesions, typically presenting as small red to purple macules or papules on the skin. These lesions are usually benign, though they can undergo changes in thickness and color over time. Certain types of angiokeratomas may also signal underlying metabolic disorders, necessitating careful clinical attention. This study aims to analyze the clinical and demographic features of angiokeratoma in Iranian patients at Razi Dermatology Hospital.
Methods: This descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional study examined 199 patients diagnosed with angiokeratoma between 2013 and 2023. Data on demographics, lesion characteristics (location and size), family history, and treatment methods were collected from medical records and analyzed using SPSS. Both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests were applied to assess associations, with a significance level set at 0.05.
Results: The mean age of patients was 24.75 years, with the second and third decades showing the highest prevalence. Among the patients, 51.3% were male and 48.7% female. Lesions most commonly appeared on the lower extremities (40.7%) and genital area (18.6%). Treatment methods included cryotherapy (68.14%), laser (27.14%), and electrodessication (4.44%), with cryotherapy proving the most effective among them.
Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and preferred treatment approaches for angiokeratoma in Iranian patients. Broader studies across various centers, along with long-term follow-up, are recommended to further investigate the clinical course, therapeutic outcomes, and potential complications associated with different treatment methods.

Exploring the different types of materials used in lifting threads for facial beauty treatments

Nahid Hassanzadeh Nemati

Aging and wrinkles on the face and neck are natural processes throughout a person's life. On these days, there are various techniques to treat these facial lines. The non-invasive facelift technique is suggested considering the risks and effects of different cosmetic procedures. This research collected information about using polymer threads for lifting the face and treating ptosis from authentic scientific texts published in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Web of Science. The investigations showed that when placed correctly, biodegradable polymer threads cause skin irritation and promote collagen formation, so that’s interesting for patients and doctors. Patients undergoing a facelift with polymer threads experience fewer complications than those undergoing traditional methods. Despite the low side effects of this method, some patients have opted to remove the threads after the lift due to dissatisfaction with their appearance. Threads with superficial spines and biodegradability are considered popular and attractive for lifting the soft tissue of the face due to their quick recovery and low cost. Different types of absorbable threads are available in the market, each with different compositions and have different designs depending on the place of use. This review study will discuss biodegradable polydioxanone (PDO), polycaprolactone (PCL), and polylactic acid (PLLA) yarns.

A review of the efficacy of oral hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging

Alireza Firooz

This review study examines the effects of oral collagen supplementation on various biophysical properties of the skin, including hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction. Collagen, as the most abundant structural protein in the skin, plays a vital role in maintaining its firmness, elasticity, and moisture. With aging, collagen production declines, leading to visible signs of aging such as wrinkles, sagging, and dryness of the skin. Additionally, factors like UV radiation and environmental pollutants accelerate collagen degradation, contributing to premature skin aging. In recent years, oral supplements containing hydrolyzed collagen, particularly collagen peptides, have gained significant popularity due to their potential ability to stimulate collagen production and improve skin quality. Various studies indicate that regular consumption of these supplements can significantly increase skin hydration, enhance elasticity, and reduce the depth and number of wrinkles. However, there are notable limitations in the existing studies, including variations in dosage, intervention duration, and collagen sources. Moreover, many of these studies have small sample sizes and short intervention periods, which limit the validity of the results. Additionally, the presence of other ingredients, such as vitamin C and hyaluronic acid in some supplements, makes it challenging to isolate the direct effects of collagen. Despite these challenges, the existing evidence suggests that oral collagen supplementation holds high potential as an effective approach for addressing skin aging. However, further long-term studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse populations are necessary to determine the precise mechanisms and optimal dosage, thereby providing more definitive scientific recommendations.

Cutaneous reaction due to scorpion bite: a case report

Ismaeil Alizadeh

Background: Scorpions are known as one of the oldest venomous animals on the planet. Scorpion bites are an important public health problem in many parts of the world, including Iran.
Case Report: In this paper, a 49-year-old woman is presented who came to the hospital with a complaining of skin reactions in the thigh area. The clinical findings in this study showed that the scorpion bite site had inflammatory reactions and redness after 24 hours. The patient was treated with Pentavalent anti-scorpion serum by intravenous injection. Approximately one week after the scorpion bite, the local and systemic symptoms disappeared with the use of anti-inflammatory ointments. Immediately after the scorpion bite, the patient's resting place was checked by the companions, and a specimen of the Hottentotta jayakari scorpion species was identified.
Conclusion: Considering that there are scorpion bite in Iran, in order to prevent and control them, it is necessary to increase the general awareness and knowledge of people at risk in society in order to reduce possible risks. In addition to these, increasing the awareness among doctors, especially dermatologists, of the skin symptoms of this dangerous animal, as therapists, can help speed up the treatment process.