Background: Individuals with lichen planopilaris (LPP) typically present with hair loss and an irritated scalp, with signs and symptoms such as itching, erythema, scaling, and burning. Both hair loss and reddened skin may be visible also for other people. Therefore, it is conceivable that individuals with LPP might report a lower mental health status. Accordingly, in the present study, we compared dimensions of mental health between individuals with LPP and healthy controls. Method: A total of 38 individuals with LPP (mean age: 38.24 years, 47.4% females) and 58 gender- and age-matched controls took part in this study. They completed questionnaires covering dimensions of quality of life and self-esteem; experts rated participants’ symptoms of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, dermatologists reported on the illness duration, the LPP activity index, and the severity of alopecia. Results: Compared to healthy controls, individuals with LPP reported lower scores of self-esteem, physical functioning, and mental health and higher scores of role limitations (physical and emotional). Likewise, experts rated higher depression scores in individuals with LPP compared to controls. In individuals with LPP, a higher LPP disease activity and a higher severity of hair loss were associated with higher depression and lower quality-of-life scores. Further, a higher LPP activity index, a lower self-esteem, and higher anxiety scores predicted a poorer quality of life, while illness duration was statistically unrelated. Conclusions: Compared to controls, and irrespectively of the illness duration, individuals with LPP reported a lower quality of life and a lower self-esteem, and experts’ ratings observed higher scores of depression. Experts treating individuals with LPP might pay special attention to the individuals’ mental health status.

Morphea is a skin disorder characterized by thickening of dermis and subcutaneous tissues and loss of adnexal structures. In the early inflammatory stage of morphea, diagnostic histological findings are absent and this may lead to confusion with other inflammatory dermatoses such as mycosis fungoides (MF). We report two cases of early stage morphea mimicking patchstage of MF. Histopathologic examination of biopsies obtained early in the disease course revealed lymphocytic epidermotropism arranged in small pautrier-like collections as well as linear arrangements in dermal- epidermal junction. Additional biopsies were performed which revealed replacement of subcutaneous fat with closely packed thick collagen bundles under eccrine glands. This report points toward the fact that early stage morphea can simulate MF. Therefore additional evaluation is sometimes required for definite diagnosis.

Introduction: Seborrhea is a condition of sebaceous glands hyperactivity and increase in the secretion of sebum on head and face surface. Sebaceous glands hyperfunction causes oily and glassy appearance with large pores on the skin. The effect of androgens on providing seborrhea is controversial. Since sufficient and definite information about testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in seborrhic cases is not available, this study was carried out to evaluate effect of serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels in the seborrheic patients. Methods: In this case-control study, 36 patients with seborrhea and 36 control individuals, under 40 years of age were selected. Serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels were measured in ng/mL. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.16, Chi-square and t-tests)α = 0.05). Results: Twenty-three males and 49 females, who referred to the dermatology department of Farshchian Hospital of Hamadan, participated in this study. The age distribution of the participants was between 19 and 39 years old with mean age of 5.71 ± 28.66. The mean level and SD of serum testosterone in control and case groups was 2.75 ± 2.83 and ± 1.21 1.09, respectively, while dihydrotestosterone level was 373 ± 500.38 and 228.2 ± 350.99 ng/mL. Means and SDs values of serum testosterone were 2.75 ± 2.83 and 1.09 ± 1.21 and dihydrotestosterone was 373 ± 500.38 and 228.2 ± 350.99 ng/mL in case and control groups, respectively. The findings showed that there were differences in serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone values between case and control groups)P< 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results of this study there is a positive relationship between serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone values with seborrhea.