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 Background & Objectives: In spite of extensive advances in diagnosis and treatment of cutaneous diseases, cutaneous fungal infections are still one of the important reasons to refer to dermatology centers. Incidence of dermatophytosis species is different in various regions. Recognition of these agents has important role in its treatment and eradication. The aim of this study was to determine the various species of dermatophytes in patients referring to Haft-e-Tir Hospital, Tabriz.

 Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 518 patients referring to Haft-e-Tir hospital from 1997 until 1998. Direct examination in their cutaneous and nail lesions was positive for dermatophytosis. All the samples from their lesions were cultured in special culture media including dextrose agar and sabouraud's dextrose agar plus chloramphenicol and cyclohexamide. The collected data were analysed by SPSS software.

 Results: There were positive cultures in 70.3% of the cases. Trichophyton verrucosom was the most common agent in all of cutaneous and nail infections. Involvement was more common among the subjects under 15 as well as among males and villagers. Tinea corporis was the most common clinical form of the disease.

 Conclusion: The findings indicated that zeophilic species and anthropophilic respectively are the most common dermatophytosis species in the region under study. Culture was positive only in ³/₄ of the samples.

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  Background & Objectives: Eczema is an inflammatory skin reaction to exogenous and endogenous factors which originate by processes within the body. One of clinical forms is Dry palmar Eczema. This condition affects housewives and cleaners who frequently immerse their hands in water and detergents. Emollients and topical steroids are used in all cases of Eczema. It is believed that alpha-hydroxy acid agents causes the regrowth and increase the viable epidermal thickness. This study showes the effects of Alpha- hidroxy acids and Vaseline on housewives hand Eczema.

  Methods: At this clinical trial, 22 housewives who had mild dry palmar Eczema were entered to study. One hand was treated by A.H.A (7% glycolic acid) and the other hand by vaselin (placebo) for a month, four times daily. Collected data were analyzed by SPSS soft ware.

  Results: Age mean of patients were 26±2 years. There was a significant relationship between Alpha-hydrocy acid and erythema improvement whith 99% confidence (p<0.01) and also between Vaseline and arrhythmia improvement with 95% confidence (p<0.04). There was a significant relationship between performing preventive recommendation and the decline in the number of complaints (p<0.01). Improvement was seen in the epidermal atrophia in 50% of the cases in Alpha-hydroxy acid group (p<0.0001). Whereas in the Vaseline group' it was not seen.

  Conclusion: Improvement and repair in Damages of stratum corneum of Epidermis by A.H.A agents is better done than through Vaseline. Howere, Vaseline is also effective in decreasing complaints and Erythema.

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Background & objectives: Acne Vulgaris is a chronic inflammation of pilosebaceous glands. Some studies have indicated the significant decrease of linoleic acid in the sebum composition of the patients with acne. The aim of this study was to determine the probable therapeutic effects of linoleic acid on moderate acne.
Methods: In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 40 women with moderate acne were divided into two groups, each group with 20 each with 20 samples. After recording the nutritional and demographic factors, the case group received, 100 mg oral doxycycline daily plus 3 gr conjugated linoleic acid and the control group received 100 mg doxycycline daily plus 4-3 oral paraffin capsules as placebo for one month. The number of acne lesions were counted before and after treatment and the mean of   Acne Severity Index (ASI) and Global Acne Grading System (GAGS) were determined for each group. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software using chi-square, independent t-test and paired t-test.
Results: The mean age was 22.8±5.5, in the case group and21.7±5.1 in placebo group indicating no statistically significant deference (p=0.51). At the end of treatment there was no statistically significant deference between the two groups in decreasing acne (p=0.31). During the treatment, ASI reduced from 129.5±13 to 77±11.6 in the case group and from 132±18.6 to 67.5±11.6 in the placebo group, –but there was no statistically significant deference between the two groups (p=0.37).
Conclusion: It seems using 3 gr oral conjugated linoleic acid daily for 1 month has no effect on remission of acne.

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Background & objectives: In recent years, the hypothesis of using anti-androgens has been increasingly addressed in the treatment of acne in women. One of these drugs is flutamide, which there is no strong evidence of its efficacy in treatment of acne in women. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of combination therapy of flutamide-cyproterone compound with flutamide-doxycycline in severe type of acne in women.
Methods: In an interventional study, patients were divided in to two groups. One group (n=30) received flutamide - cyproterone compound and another group (n=30) received flutamide-doxycycline which were followed for six months. Both groups also received 1% topical clindamycin twice a day. Counting the number of lesions, changes in severity index and grading of acne were used to evaluate the patients. Patient satisfaction was also evaluated.
Results: The mean age in the flutamide-doxycycline group was 19.4±4.67 and in the flutamide-cyproterone compound group was 19.06±11.3. This difference was not statistically significant. The mean of the acne severity index at the onset of intervention between the two groups was not significant (p= 0.7). The mean of the acne severity index at the start of treatment in the flutamide-doxycycline group was 306.07±155.46 and at the end of treatment reached to 19.18±19.5, and also in the flutamide-cyproterone compound group, decreased from 293.21±15.21 to 10.5±21.8 at the end of treatment. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.1).
Conclusion: Both therapeutic regimen were effective in the treatment of severe type of acne and can possibly be used as an alternative treatment for severe acne.