Journal of

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Background and Aim: Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit. Retinoids are used as the first line therapy in acne. Systemic absorption and skin irritation including redness, pruritus and exfoliation are some of their side effects. In this study we compared the efficacy of isotretinoin 0.05% niosomal gel versus adapalen 0.1% gel in treatment of acne vulgaris.

Methods: In this randomized double blind clinical trial, 144 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris aged from 15 to 30 years were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups of A, whom were treated with isotretinoin 0.05% niosomal gel and B whom were treated with adapalen 0.1% gel. The patients were evaluated for clinical reponse, decrease in the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions and side effects after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks of the initiation of treatment.

Results: At the end of the study the clinical responses of comedones and inflammatory lesions in isotretinoin 0.05% niosomal gel group were 68% and 79%, in comparison with 65% and 76% in the adapalen gel group,  respectively. The differences were not statistically significant. At the end of the treatment period more decrease in number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions were seen in group A patients (niosomal isotretinoin) than group B (adapalen 0.1% gel) (P<0.001). Also side effect of skin redness was found more in group B (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Isotretinoin 0.05% niosomal gel has less side effects and more efficacy in the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris in comparison with adapalen 0.1% gel.

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Background and Aim: The cosmetic surgery is one of the prevalent phenomenons in recent decades. Body image is a key factor for interest in cosmetic surgery, but body image is a multidimensional concept and all its dimensions should be studied. This study aimed to study cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions of body image in women interested in cosmetic surgery.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional research with causal-comparative method. A sample of 600 female students, age 18 to 35 years, were selected from universities in Tehran by using multi-stage cluster random sampling methid, who completed a set of questionnaires including “Beliefs About Appearance Scale (BAAS)“, “Body Areas Satisfaction Scale (BASS)“, “the Body Image Coping Strategies Inventory (BICSI)“ and Acceptance of Cosmetic Surgery Scale (ACSS). The collected data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).

Results: The students who were interested in cosmetic surgery got a higher score in components of body investment as cognitive dimension and body dissatisfaction as emotional dimension. Among the three behavioral components of body image, there was significant difference only in appearance fixing coping (P<0.0001) and there were no significant differences in acceptance and avoidant strategies between students.

Conclusion: All of the cognitive, emotional and behavioral dimensions of body image are important in cosmetic surgery, and women interested in cosmetic surgery not only had body dissatisfaction, but also had dysfunctional attitudes about appearance important in interpersonal relationships, personal achievement and self-concept, and used strategies based on body modification. These findings can be used in prevention and intervention programs.

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Background and Aim: Cosmetic surgery as a special and common form of bodybuilding culture has always been a controversial topic in contemporary society. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of emotion-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy with mindfulness based cognitive therapy on body image and cognitive fusion in adolescent girls seeking cosmetic surgery.

Methods: This was a quasi- experimental intervention study with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of the study consisted of all female secondary school students in the 1st District of Tehran in the academic year 1397-98. From this community, 30 students were selected based on cluster sampling and randomly divided into three groups: 10 in the first group, 10 in the second group and 10 in the control group (8 sessions with mindfulness programs occasionally). Data were gathered through Multidimensional Self-Body Questionnaire (MBSRQ), Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) and multivariate analysis of covariance.

Results: The results showed that cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness treatment were effective in improving the body image of adolescent girls seeking cosmetic surgery (P<0.05) and there was no significant difference between the two treatments (P<0.662).

Conclusion: Cognitive-behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy are both effective to improve body image and reduce cognitive interference.