Journal of

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Background and Aim: Anti-inflammatory and hypo- pigmenting effects of topical tretinoin and alpha-hydroxy acids have been documented. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of 0.05% tretinion cream with 7% alpha-hydroxy acid in the treatment of ephelides.
Methods: In this clinical trial 80 patients with ephelides were selected and allocated into two groups. One group was treated with 0.05% tretinoin cream every other night. The other group was treated with 7% alpha-hydroxy acid cream in the same manner. Both groups were treated with antisolar creams and followed every month for 5 months.
Results: After 5 months excellent therapeutic response was achieved in 3 (7.5%) of patients who were treated with 0.05% tretinoin cream compared to 8 (20%) in alpha-hydroxy acid cream. Good therapeutic response was observed in 20 (50%) of tretinoin group versus 16 (40%) in alpha-hydroxy acid group. Patient's satisfaction from treatment was consistent with evaluation by dermatologists (P=0.384 and P=0.132).
Conclusion: Both 0.05% tretinoin cream and 7% alpha-hydroxy acid cream are equally efficient in the treatment of ephelides.

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Background and Aim: Acne vulgaris is a common disorder of adolescence which may lead to significant cosmetic and psychological problems. Different topical and systemic therapeutic modalities have been used to treat acne vulgaris. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of topical 0.05% isotretinoin gel with 1% clindamycin solution in the treatment of acne vulgaris.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 60 patients with mild to moderate papulopustular acne vulgaris were randomly allocated into two groups of equal sizes. One group was treated with 0.05% isotretinoin gel every night. The other group was treated with 1% clindamycin solution twice daily. Both groups were followed every month for 3 months.
Results: The mean of total lesion count decreased significantly after treatment in comparison with its mean before the treatment in both groups (P<0.001). The mean of acne severity index significantly reduced after treatment in both groups (P<0.001). Satisfaction of patients in clindamycin group was higher (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Decrease in total lesion count and acne severity index in both treatment groups were statistically significant however, considering the minimal complications and satisfaction of patients in clindamycin group, 1% solution of clindamycin may be recommended in the treatment of papulopustular of acne vulgaris.

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Background and Aim: Vitiligo is an skin condition that results in the skin depigmentation. The implementation of a basal cell layer suspension is a novel treatment in cases with recalcitrant vitiligo. In this study, the efficacy of topical calcipotriol on the implementation site with basal cell layer suspension versus basal cell layer suspension application alone was compared.

Methods: In this randomized, controlled clinical trial, 20 patients with recalcitrant vitiligo were randomly allocated in two 10-patient groups, undergoing the implementation of basal cell layer suspension alone (controls) or along with daily application of topical calcipotriol (intervention group). Results and possible complications were compared between the two groups 6 months after initiation of the treatment.

Results: Six months after initiation of the study, 2 patients (20%) in the control group had poor responses, and 8 patients (80%) had moderate/good responses. In the intervention group, 1 patient (10%) showed poor response, and 9 patients (90%) showed moderate/good responses (P>0.05). Complications were trivial and self-limiting.

Conclusion: Although topical application of calcipotriol did not signigicantly change the primary outcome of the study, it was associated with better results and no major side effects.

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Background and Aim: National studies on the prevalence of skin problems of the Iranian are very limited. The aim of this study was to determine the skin complaints of adult male population.
 

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1419 men over 35 years from 32 provinces participated by invitation. Demographic information, underlying disease history and presence of skin problems/diseases were collected by dermatologists. The participants were evaluated in terms of the presence of skin complaints (itching, burning, dry skin, redness, scaling, and skin color change); and any skin complaints with type, severity and location. 
 

Results: About one third 31.6% of the Iranian male middle-aged and elderly, had an underlying disease (n=449). High blood pressure, diabetes, and neurological disorders constituted 79.7% of the chronic diseases. In total, n=344 persons (24.2%) were rated as having skin complaint. Most people who had a skin complaint reported more than one skin complaint 75.6% (n=260). The most common skin complaints were related to itching 14.6% (n=207) and dry skin 5.6% (23.3%) in studied population, which were mostly mild 59.3% (n=204) and localize 58.4% (n=201). The use of corticosteroids was stated in 7.2%(n=103) and the most common types of usage was oral 62.1% (n=64). There was significant correlation between skin complaint and occupational exposure (P=0.01); lower education level (P=0.05); corticosteroid usage in general (P<0.001) and both oral (P=0.02) and topical (P<0.001) corticosteroid.
 

Conclusion: Skin complaint is common among middle-aged and elderly Iranian men. The most common skin complaint are mostly mild and localized itching and dry skin.