Iranian Journal Of Dermatology
Volume:2 Issue: 4, 1999

Stereotypic behaviors are characterized by repetitive, deviated and aimless actions that persist for more than 4 months in individual. Nail biting habit is one of informed obsessive-compulsive disorders that begins in childhood and continues for a long time. Onychophagia is a disorder with unknown cause and many factors can predispose it in a child. Individual characteristics and environmental factors are among other factors that may cause onychophagia in a child.

In this cross sectional study prevalence of nail biting in 600 male and female students of primary schools of Kerman has been assessed.

The prevalence of nail biting was 28.7% and the duration of onychophagia was between 1-2 years in 53.5% of cases. Onychophagia was most common in age group of 13 years. IQ, grade, success in exams, parents job and association with other stereotypic habits were evaluated. Nutrition in infancy period, position of labor, parents’ educational level, and family population were also analyzed. No significant relation was found between any of above factors and nail biting.

Nail biting can be considered as an independent and temporary event in the growth period of child.

Diffuse hair loss is one of the most common complaints of women attending skin clinics.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate diffuse hair loss in women referring to a private office. Patients and

This descriptive, retrospective study was performed on women attending a private skin clinic in Ahwaz complaining of diffuse hair loss. The study was done for 10 months in 1376-77. The patients who were hirsute or had apparent clinical pattern of androgenetic or scarring alopecia were excluded.

68% of the total of 180 patients aged between 10 to 30 years old. Thyroid function disorders was found in 18.8%, and anemia was the only finding in 23% of the patients. Trichotillomania was observed in 3.2% and in 41.4% we could not find any clinical or laboratory positive finding.

Women complaining of diffuse hair loss should be screened for thyroid disorders and anemia.

Dermatophyte infections are common contagious diseases found in all over the world specially in tropical regions.

Our objective was to study different forms of dermatophytosis in Ahwaz. Patients and

We studied 100 cases of dermatophytosis whom were visited in a private skin clinic in 1372 to 1376 in Ahwaz.

Among 266 suspected patients sent for fungal examination, 100 dermatophyte cases (79 men and 21 women) were diagnosed. Tinea capitis was the most common tinea found in 34% specially in the boys and the most common fungal agent was Microsporum canis. Tinea cruris was found in 32% and was the most common form in men. The most important fungal agent was Epidermophyton fluccosum. The incidence of other forms were: tinea corporis 20%, tinea pedis 7%, tinea faciei 4%, tinea mannum 1%. Onychomycosis due to dermatophytes and tinea barbae were not found, but 2 cases of onychomycosis due to non-dermatophyte saprophytes were observed.

Tinea capitis was the most common clinical form and zoophilic fungi were the most common etiologic agents of dermatophytosis in Ahwaz.

Systemic drugs have been used widely in the treatment of many skin diseases. Although dermatologists are familiar with the guidelines of selecting appropriate patients and prescribing systemic drugs, their knowledge about the side effects and significant interactions of systemic drugs used in dermatology is more limited. So a short review on important drug interactions seems to be useful. Some of the most significant drug interactions in dermatology are reviewed.

The inefficiency of current therapies of acne vulgaris, side effects and teratogenicity of topical and oral retinoids resulted in the need to find out new drugs. Adapalene 0.1% gel or solution with retinoid properties is effective in treatment of acne, and improves both inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions. The anti-inflammatory properties of adapalene and its specific tendency to bind to retinoic acid receptors (RAR) are characteristic. Different multicenter clinical trials have demonstrated that topical adapalene is much better tolerated and at least as effective in the treatment of acne as the topical tretinoin 0.025% gel. In conclusion the equal efficacy and superior tolerability of adapalene compared to tretinoin, and also its unique anti-inflammatory effects, made this new agent a major advance in topical therapy of acne.

Pyoderma gangrenosum is characterized by a chronic, non-infectious, destructive ulcer which is mostly seen on distal lower extremities, but it can be found anywhere on body. We report an 18-year old man who developed keloids after healing of his ulcers. He was a known case of chronic relapsing pyoderma gangrenosum. His previous ulcers were used to heal leaving atrophic, cigarette-paper scars. But since a year ago, following using clofazimine for his disease, he has developed keloids after healing the ulcers. Alterations in the immune system of the patient might be involved. Development of keloids in ulcers of pyoderma gangrenosum has not been reported previously.

Rhinophyma is a benign and disfiguring tumor of the nose, affecting white old men. It represents the end stage of acne rosacea. Hypertrophy of the sebaceous apparatus and fibrosis lead to an enlarged, erythematous nasal tip with comedones. Treatment modalities include Isotretinoin (Which is not effective on severe rhinophyma), freehand scalpel shave, cryosurgery, electrocautery, dermabrasion, excision and closure with local flaps, and laser resection. This study has been done in department of dermatology, Hope Hospital, University of Manchester, Salford, England from September 1998 to February 1999. 4 cases of rhinophyma were treated as outpatients with CO2</sub> laser after local anesthesia. The cosmetic results of treatment for all patients were satisfactory.

Mycetoma is a chronic, progressive, and destructive disease primarily caused by actinomycetes. This is a report of 4 cases of actinomycotic mycetomas studied in our hospital during the last five years. The patients included 2 men, 56 and 42 years old, and 2 women, 31 and 52 years old, from Khuzestan province located in the south west of Iran. Clinically all patients presented with mycetoma syndrome (Subcutaneous swelling, sinus tracts and granules) with a duration of 3 to 20 years. The lesions were located on the foot in 3 cases and on the hand in one of them. The diagnosis was based on clinical, histopathological and mycological studies. The etiologic agents were Nocardia spp, sterptomyces spp. and actinomyces spp. and one of cultures was negative. All of them were treated with trimethoprime-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) plus streptomycin sulfate for several months. We were able to obtain clinical cure in one case and clinical improvement in 2 cases. Early diagnosis favored an efficient therapy and the most effective therapy was combination of TMP-SMZ with streptomycin sulfate.