Iranian Journal Of Dermatology
Volume:15 Issue: 4, winter 2013

Skin cancers are the most common human cancers. The most common skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma. Different factors are involved in development of skin cancers; the most notable one is exposure to ultraviolet radiation. In this study, the incidence of skin cancer was determined in Kerman province where is located in the desert region of Iran with ample sunlight, during a 5–year period. All registered cases of skin cancers between March 2005 and March 2010 were retrieved from the Kerman Province Cancer Registry. For each patient, data about age, gender, location, pathologic type of cancer and site of skin involvement, were obtained. Incidence rates according to the age, sex and the location of the lesions were calculated. Trend analysis was done for the next 10 years. During these 5 years, 1250 cases of skin cancer were recorded. The incidence in men was 1.2 times higher than women. The highest incidence was seen in individulas older than 80 years of age. Fifty percent of all skin cancers were located on the face. The highest incidence was observed in the city of Kerman with an annual incidence of 12.6 in 100,000. Trend analysis showed that the incidence of skin cancer in Kerman province would reach 23 in 100 000 people in 2019, which is 2.3 times higher than the incidence rate in 2009. Skin cancer is a public health concern in Kerman province in Iran. Considering the desert climate and the intensity of sunlight in most seasons, it is necessary to plan scientific practical interventions to prevent skin cancer and reduce its incidence..

Infantile hemangioma is a congenital vascular malformation. Although almost all cases are self-limiting, treatment is sometimes necessary. According to previous studies, topical imiquimod induces resolution of lesions with an acceptable safety profile. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of this topical treatment on Iranian infantile hemangioma patients. Patients under two years of age with infantile hemangioma who were not candidates for immediate systemic therapy with steroids were selected if the lesions were not ulcerated. Topical 5% imiquimod was applied on the lesions for 16 weeks. All the lesions were photographed before the commencement of the study and at the end of the treatment. Photographs were compared by two associate dermatology professors to evaluate the effect of treatment using a visual analogue scale. A total of 15 patients including five males (33.3%) and ten females (66.7%), with an age range of two to 18 months and a mean age of 9.1 (± 6.3) months, were enrolled in the study. The mean diameter of the lesions was 2.6 cm (± 1.8 cm). Nine patients (60%) had moderate response and five patients (33.3%) had good response while one patient had excellent response. Complications were mild local irritation and pruritus. It seems that topical imiquimod could be a suitable option in the treatment of some infantile hemangioma lesions not candidate for systemic treatment and/or other local measures such as laser and intra lesional steroid or when other drugs are useless or harmful..

This study was conducted because up to now, the investigations performed on cutaneous manifestations of antihypertensive agents’ reactions, especially in Pakistan, are negligible even though these drugs are taken by a large number of people. The aim of this study was to determine the cutaneous manifestations of different antihypertensive agents in terms of dosage and duration. The study was carried out at the Departments of Dermatology and Cardiology, Civil Hospital, Karachi. The study was carried out from June 2007 to December 2007. The inclusion criteria included all patients taking a single antihypertensive agent with cutaneous manifestations. Patients taking antihypertensive drugs but suffering from some other dermatological diseases and those taking more than one drug were excluded. After informed consent, history, specifically regarding the type of drug dosage and duration of drug intake was taken. Specific investigations such as biopsy were done if indicated. Out of 100 patients, 37 were male and 63 were female. Most of the patients were in the age group 46–60 years. The majority (97%) of patients experienced the onset of lesions between 4–8 weeks of therapy and only 2% had lesions within 4 weeks. Moderate lesions were markedly more common and were found in 65% followed by mild lesions in 26%, severe in 6%, and lethal in 3% of the patients. The most common lesions were pruritis and eczema, followed by flushing, lichenoid eruptions, oral ulcers, purpuras, psoriasis, exanthematous reactions, urticaria, gingival hyperplasia, lichen planus, morbilliform rashes, oral lichen planus and butterfly rash. No relation was noted between a drug dose and the severity of skin lesions. Most patients started having skin lesions 4 to 8 weeks after therapy..

Various kinds of sensitizers are administrated foralopecia areata treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate treatment response to Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in alopecia areata patients. In this study, 117 patients were treated with DNCB under a specific checklist. All patients were sensitized with a 2% DNCB and then treated with ascending DNCB concentrations (0.001%-2%). Response to treatment was categorized as none, mild, moderate and marked improvement. Thirty three (27.5%) patients showed no response, 49 (40.8%) had relapse 6 months after improvement, 29 (24.2%) had no relapse 6 months after the treatment and 6 patients were excluded because they did not return for follow-up visits. Response to treatment in patients without eyelash and eyebrow involvement increased significantly (P=0.01). We did not observe any side effects except for localized dermatitis seen in 5% of the patients. With respect to the suitable response to DNCB application and its availability, the authors suggest that DNCB be reconsidered in alopecia areata. However, attention must be paid to its mutagenicity..

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) is a clinically heterogeneous group of inherited disorders with ten different types, all involving a genetic defect in collagen and connective-tissue synthesis and structure that affecting the skin, joints, and blood vessels. EDS type VIA, a very rare kyphoscoliotic type, is autosomal recessive and clinically characterized by soft extensible skin, laxity of joints and kyphoscoliosis. We present a case of an adult male patient complaining of recurrent acne over the chin, axilla and pyoderma in the groin region since he was 14 years of age. Past medical history was positive for recurrent pyoderma which healed with scarring, bleeding tendency, double vision and backache. On examination, the patient had hyperextensible skin, joint hypermobility, kyphoscoliosis, easy bruisability, and scleral fragility. Urinary analysis revealed a decrease in the hydroxylysylpyidinoline to lysl-pyridinoline ratio indicative of EDS type VIA with a severely reduced Lysyl Hydroxylase (LH) activity in the skin fibroblast culture..

Confluent and Reticulate Papillomatosis (CRP) is a rare disease with poorly recognized etiology. Various agents such as antibacterial, topical/systemic antifungal and topical/oral retinoids have been used as treatment. Here, we report a 15-year-old female with CRP in whom yeasts of Malassezia were found in the PAS stain of the skin lesions. Topical terbinafine hydrochloride 1% spray and oral fluconazole disappeared the lesions, supporting the hypothesis that CRP maybe a reactive dermatosis to Malassezia..

Diffuse normolipemic plane xanthoma is characterized by the presence of yellowish-orange plaques on the eyelids, neck, upper trunk, buttocks and flexural surfaces of the extremities in patients with a normal lipid profile. It mainly affects adults of both sexes. Diffuse normolipemic plane xanthomas are usually associated with reticuloendothelial system disorders, such as multiple myeloma and monoclonal gammopathies. We report a case of diffuse plane xanthomas in an otherwise healthy 1-year-old male infant who developed multiple disseminated non-inflammatory yellowish-orange macules and patches that were not associated with any other symptoms..