Cutaneous lesions of the nose

Skin diseases on the nose are seen in a variety of medical disciplines. Dermatologists, otorhinolaryngologists, general practitioners and general plastic and dermatologic surgeons are regularly consulted regarding cutaneous lesions on the nose. This article is the second part of a review series dealing with cutaneous lesions on the head and face, which are frequently seen in daily practice by a dermatologic surgeon. In this review, we focus on those skin diseases on the nose where surgery or laser therapy is considered a possible treatment option or that can be surgically evaluated

Hormonal treatment of acne vulgaris: an update

Mohamed L Elsaie Department of Dermatology and Venereology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt Abstract: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition associated with multiple factors. Although mostly presenting alone, it can likewise present with features of hyperandrogenism and hormonal discrepancies. Of note, hormonal therapies are indicated in severe, resistant-to-treatment cases and in those with monthly flare-ups and when standard therapeutic options are inappropriate. This article serves as an update to hormonal pathogenesis of acne, discusses the basics of endocrinal evaluation for patients with suspected hormonal acne, and provides an overview of the current hormonal treatment options in women. Keywords: acne, hormones, hyperandrogenis

Effectiveness of topical peppermint oil on symptomatic treatment of chronic pruritus

Lotfy T Elsaie,1,† Abdelraouf M El Mohsen,1 Ibrahim M Ibrahim,1 Mahmoud H Mohey-Eddin,1 Mohamed L Elsaie2 1Department of Dermatology, Al Azhar University, 2Department of Dermatology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt †Dr Lotfy T Elsaie passed away on December 17, 2014 Background: Pruritus is one of the commonest skin complaints. Peppermint oil can be effective in reducing the severity of such a condition.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of topically applied peppermint oil in the treatment of chronic pruritus.Subjects and methods: Fifty selected subjects diagnosed with chronic pruritus due to hepatic, renal, or diabetic cause were studied and divided into two groups of 25 patients each. Group I patients were instructed to hydrate the skin and then apply topical peppermint oil, while Group II patients applied petrolatum topically by hand; this application was done on the areas of pruritus, twice daily for 2 weeks. The severity of the itch was assessed and compared before and after the study by the 5-D itch scale (5D-IS). The results were analyzed by SPSS software. ­Statistical methods such as descriptive analysis, independent samples t-test, paired samples t-test, and chi-square test were employed.Results: There was a significant improvement regarding all studied individual parameters (5-D IS) for the peppermint oil users with no significance among petrolatum users. A comparison of total score of 5-D IS between patients of Group I and patients of Group II favored the improvement following the use of peppermint oil than using placebo (P-value <0.05).Conclusion: The topical treatment of chronic pruritus with peppermint oil is effective, easy to use, safe, cheap, and more acceptable for those whose topical and systemic treatments tend to be irritating, contraindicated, or less well tolerated. Keywords: pruritus, peppermint oil, itc

Early fractional carbon dioxide laser intervention for postsurgical scars in skin of color

Shady M Ibrahim,1 Wael M Saudi,2 Mohamed F Abozeid,3 Mohamed L Elsaie4 1Department of Dermatology, Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Department of Dermatology, Misr University for Science & Technology, 6th of October City, Egypt; 3Department of Plastic surgery, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt; 4Department of Dermatology, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt Background: Fractional CO2 laser is one of the most effective treatment options used to resurface scars. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of early treatment of postsurgical scar by fractional ablative CO2 laser. Methods: A total of 27 Egyptian patients with recent postoperative scars were enrolled in this study. Three sessions of fractional CO2 laser with a 1-month interval were started 4 weeks after surgery. Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) was used as an assessment tool at 1 and 3 months after the final treatment. Patients reported their satisfaction using a subjective 4-point scale. Results: Results demonstrated a statistically significant overall average improvement of the VSS (5.33±1.33) before compared with (2.55±1.06) 3 months after the last laser treatment (P≤0.001). Among the individual parameters in the VSS, the most significant improvements were found in pigmentation, height, and pliability. Patient’s subjective satisfaction scores showed a significant greater degree of satisfaction after laser treatment. Conclusion: Fractional ablative CO2 laser is an effective and safe treatment modality for surgical scars in the early postsurgical period. Keywords: scar, fractional, CO2 lase