Iranian Journal Of Dermatology
Volume:23 Issue: 2, Summer 2020

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease and a cosmetic problem with considerable emotional and psychological side effects and symptoms, such as pain and pruritus. Some controversies exist concerning the involvement of dietary factors, including glycemic load (GL), in the pathogenesis of acne. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the role of GL and anthropometric measures in acne development among girls aged 12-18 years in Tehran, Iran. In this cross-sectional study, 99 girls (45 girls without acne and 54 girls with acne) aged 12 18 years completed a threeday food record. Anthropometric measures, such as height, weight, waist circumference, and body mass index (BMI), were also assessed. Additionally, an expert dermatologist scored the severity of acne, and then, anthropometric measures and GL were examined in the groups. The results showed no significant difference in dietary GL, height, weight, BMI, and waist circumference between the groups. Furthermore, the severity of acne was not significantly associated with GL. The present results did not confirm the association between acne and dietary carbohydrates, including GL. However, further research can contribute to determination of the effect of diet on acne and its severity.

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune bullous disease of the skin and mucous membranes caused by activation and proliferation of T cells, production of Th2 cytokine profile and pathogenic antibodies. Vitamin D is a probable immunodeviator to Th2, which its actions are mediated through the vitamin D receptor (VDR). FokI is the only single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) leading to VDR protein with a different structure and function. For the first time, we focused on FokI VDR SNP to evaluate its potential role in the genetic susceptibility to PV, particularly in the Iranian population that has a high prevalence of pemphigus. In this case-control study, DNA samples of 122 PV patients and 233 healthy controls were extracted, and FokI genotyping was performed using the PCR-RFLP method. The mean allele frequencies of F and f alleles in the PV and control groups were 75% and 25%, and 78% and 22%, respectively, showing no significant difference. The genotype frequencies for FF, Ff, and ff genotypes in the case group were 57.4%, 35.2%, and 7.4%, respectively. In the control group, the frequencies were 60%, 36%, and 4%, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two groups. The present study concluded the frequencies of F and f alleles as approximately 77% and 23% in the gene pool of the Iranian population. Additionally, it showed no association between the FokI alleles and PV in this population.

Wound healing is one of the main problems faced by medical scientists. Nowadays, herbal compounds are used to accelerate the repairing process. Coumarin is a plant compound with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. In the present study, the benefits of using coumarin in accelerating wound healing were investigated in mice. Sixty male BALB/c mice were used. After making a linear wound on the dorsum of the animals, they were randomly divided into five equal groups: the first and second groups received topical cream of coumarin at concentrations of 1% and 2%; the third and fourth groups received nitrofurazone cream (positive control) and eucerin cream (negative control), respectively. The fifth group as the sham group was not treated. Then on days 4, 7, 10, and 14 of experiment, biopsies were performed on three mice from each group. Histological examination was performedusing hematoxylin and eosin and Masson trichrome staining. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey tests. Inflammation significantly decreased in both experimental groups at days 4, 7, and 10, compared to the control groups. In the proliferation phase, fibroblast cells, granulation tissue formation, and epithelialization were significantly higher in both experimental groups than the control groups. In addition, collagen synthesis significantly increased in the experimental groups compared to the control groups. Topical application of coumarin had beneficial effects on different phases of wound healing in the skin of BALB/c mice.

The use of vitamin D and its analogues in the treatment of warts has been to be effective and painless without any considerable side effects, unlike some other routine safe and effective therapeutic modalities such as cryotherapy that in some cases is really difficult to perform due to related pain, especially in the children. Owing to a probable relationship between the deficiency of serum vitamin D and warts, this research aimed to find the association between level of serum vitamin D and warts.

This case-control study was conducted on 56 subjects in Rasoul Akram Hospital, Tehran, Iran, for 18 months. The subjects were randomly divided into case and control groups, including 28 age and sex-matched subjects in each of them. The required data were extracted through a questionnaire. Finally, the data were analyzed in the SPSS software V.22 using tests such as Mann-Whitney and Pearson correlation.

In this study, 56 people were examined, and 28 subjects were included in both case and control groups. The mean serum level of vitamin D in both case and control groups was 23.564and 31.593, respectively. The association between serum levels of vitamin D in the group with and without wart was not significant in both men and female groups. Serum vitamin D levels were compared in two groups of under 18 years old and between 18 and 50 years old, which were not statistically significant.

According to our results, there is no significant relationship between serum vitamin D levels and existence of warts. This relationship is not statistically significant at the level of age and sex variables, and there is no difference in age and gender between the case and control groups.

Keratosis rubra pilaris is a common condition with an estimated percentage of 40% involvement in the population. This condition is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and more commonly involves patients with dry skin. In the current study, we evaluated the efficacy of intense pulsed light (IPL) plus ammonium lactate versus ammonium lactate alone in the treatment of keratosis pilaris.

A total of 50 patches were selected in 10 patients. If there were two similar patches with the same color and same location, each of them was randomized to receive ammonium lactate (Kerapil cream®) or ammonium lactate (Kerapil cream®) +IPL. Treatment was performed for 3 months, and improvement was rated by physicians and patients one month and two months after the intervention.

The grade of improvement in the IPL + ammonium lactate was not significantly higher than ammonium lactate alone group as rated by blinded physicians at week 4 (P > 0.05). However, the score of improvement was also higher, as rated by the patients, in the IPL + ammonium lactate versus ammonium lactate alone (P < 0.05) at week 8.

Our results demonstrated that addition of IPL to ammonium lactate could improve the clinical response of keratosis pilaris lesions.

Pyogenic granuloma (PG) is a common, acquired tumor-like growth occurring on skin/mucous membranes. It is prevalent in the pediatric age group. It is benign in nature and is caused by chronic low grade trauma. It presents as pink to red elevated pedunculated or sessile mass. There are various treatment modalities including surgery, cryotherapy, laser, electrocautery, etc. However, the therapeutic effects are limited with high recurrence rates. The use of sclerotherapy for the treatment of pyogenic granuloma in children is not commonly reported. We present a case of PG on the scalp successfully treated with intralesional injection of sodium tetradecyl sulfate.

Porokeratotic eccrine ostial and dermal duct nevus (PEODDN) is known as an uncommon disorder of keratinization in which acrosyringium is involved; however, its causes have yet remained unknown. It is presented clinically by discrete keratotic papules on distal extremities arranged in a linear pattern along Blaschko lines. Histopathologically, it is characterized by cornoid lamella, which is almost always located overlying an acrosyringium. We present a case with an unusual presentation of extensive PEODDN lesions along the lower extremity. Our case was a young woman presented with multiple keratotic elevated papules on her left sole since her birth. In continuity with the lesions on her sole, a linear plaque was extended up to her buttock. Histopathology showed hyperkeratosis with cornoid lamella overlying the acrosyringium. The rarity of PEODDN and interesting presentation of the lesions on the sole of our patient with extension in a linear Blaschko pattern up to her buttock resembling verrucous linear epidermal nevus encouraged us to present this case.