Prevalence of skin disorders in Sari, 2003-2004

Abstract Background and purpose: Skin disorders are the most common preseting health problems. According to dermatological researches, only scant studies estimated the prevalence of skin diseases in the general population. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of skin diseases in Sari, Mazandaran, North of Iran.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on all of the patients referred to Boo-Ali Sina hospital in Sari, in 2003-2004. All data such as diagnosis of skin problem, age, sex, marrital status and job were recorded. Diagnoses were classified according to the international classification of diseases (ICD-10). Results were analyzed with descriptive statistics using SPSS software.Results: A total of 4460 patients with mean age of 28.01±16.2 years including 1807 (40.4%) men and 2653 (59.7%) women were studied. Most of the patients (33.4%) referred in summer. The most common observed skin disease was appendices disorders (24%) the most common of which acne (55.8%) and androgenic alopecia (30%). The second common problem was infections (23.3%) and dermatitis (19.8%) was the third. Irritant contact dermatitis (82.7%) was the most common form of dermatitis.Conclusion: We found that prevalence and distribution of skin disorders in the study area are different from those of other parts of Iran. More studies are needed to identify common skin disorders in Iran

Comparison of therapeutic effects of Finasteride jel and tablet in treatment of Androgenic Alopecia

Abstract Background and purpose: Finasteride, a type П– selective 5α– reductase inhibitor, that causes decreasing Dihydrotestestrone (DHT) levels, is effective in treatment of male androgenic alopecia.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of local finasteride on androgenic alopecia treatment in comparison with oral finasteride.Materials and Methods: This study was a double-blind clinical trial including 45 male patients involved with androgenetic alopecia according to history and physical examination and possessing the study criteria selected among patients reffered to private clinics and departments of dermatology in Sari city.Patients were divided into two groups: patients in group A (finasteride jel and placebo tablet) and patients in group B (finastride tablet and pelacebo jel) and the eligible reffered patients were gradually and randomly entered the two groups. The treatment period was 6 months. In order to evaluate the drug effects and progressive state of the patients and assessment of drug complications, the patients were followed up by clinical observation and recording of side effects before study and at the end of the first week and then every month after starting the treatment. The variables used to evaluate the therapeutic response were: size of defect, hair count and terminal hair count. The analysis was done using descriptive and X² statistical methods.Results: Of the 45 patients enrolled, 38 completed the entire study period. The average period since the onder of hair loss was 18.8 ± 23.10 months. Every month the size of alopecia area, hair count and terminal hair count between the two groups were compared and there were on significant statistical differences. In the third month of treatment, an increase in terminal hair count were observed in group A (P=0.001), this phenomenon was observed in second months in group B (P=0.015). During the therapeutic period, the size of alopecia area did not significantly change in group A, but in group B, the change in size of alopecia area was significant 4 months after the start of treatment (P=0.027). Increased hair count in two groups were significant in the fourth treatment months (P=0.001 in group A and P=0.000 in group B).Conclusion: In this study, treatment with %1 finasteride jel produced relatively similar moderate therapeutic effects with finasteride tablet (%54.5 against%56) in patients with male alopecia with no significant statistical differences (P = 0.643)

The effects of garlic topical gel (5%) in the treatment of alopecia areata

Background and purpose: Alopecia areata is the rapid onset of total hair loss in a sharply defined round area. No definite cause is known for this disease but stress is an effective factor. Different treatments are available but no cure is yet known. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of garlic gel in treatment of alopecia areata.Materials and Methods: The method of study is placebo controlled. The study was performed during summer 2004-5. The subjects were recruited from dermatology clinics in the city of Sari, according to inclusion criteria. They were randomly divided into 4 blocks and received gel and placebo. Garlic gel was used twice dayly with topical corticosteroid. The results were compared together after 3 months. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tuky-test using SPSS program. Results: Twenty patients were given the garlic gel and placebo was administered to the other 20 patients. The average age of the patients (55% male) was 24 ± 15. Scalp was the most common affected area in patients (72.5 %) and majority of them had one patch (70 %). Positive familial history was noted in 22.5 % of the patients and 25 % of them had the atopic. Stress was observed in 35% of the patients. There was no difference in decreasing the size of patches in the first two months, between the two groups. However, the increase in the number of hair between the two groups were significant in the third month(P<0.05). Conclusion: The garlic gel can stimulate hair growth in patients with Alopecia areata. Therefor this effective and low cost treatment is recommended particularly for limited forms of the disease

Wound healing effects of curcumin: A short review

Wound healing is a complex process that consists of several phases that range from coagulation, inflammation, accumulation of radical substances, to proliferation, formation of fibrous tissues and collagen, contraction of wound with formation of granulation tissue and scar. Since antiquity, vegetable substances have been used as phytotherapeutic agents for wound healing, and more recently natural substances of vegetable origin have been studied with the attempt to show their beneficial effect on wound treatment. Curcumin, the most active component of rhizome of Curcuma longa L. (common name: turmeric), has been studied for many years due to its bio-functional properties, especially antioxidant, radical scavenger, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities, which play a crucial role in the wound healing process. Moreover, curcumin stimulated the production of the growth factors involved in the wound healing process, and so curcumin also accelerated the management of wound restoration. The aim of the present review is collecting and evaluating the literature data regarding curcumin properties potentially relevant for wound healing. Moreover, the investigations on the wound healing effects of curcumin are reported. In order to produce a more complete picture, the chemistry and sources of curcumin are also discussed. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers