Background: Seborrheic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Structure and amount of lipids in skin, immunological reaction against Malassezia, lipase activity, genetics, environmental factors and stress contribute to the development of the disease, but the pathogenesis is not known precisely. Trace elements play a role in many important functions of organisms. However, the effects of trace elements on skin and adnexal structures are not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the serum zinc, copper, and iron levels as well as the hair zinc, copper, iron, and manganese levels in patients with seborrheic dermatitis and to reveal the relationship between these parameters and seborrheic dermatitis. Materials and methods: 35 female patients with seborrheic dermatitis, aged over 18 years, and 34 healthy females with no known dermatologic or systemic diseases at similar ages were included in the study. Groups were compared in terms of serum and hair trace element levels. Results: When the serum samples of the groups were compared in terms of trace element levels, copper was statistically significantly higher in the seborrheic dermatitis group, but there was no statistically significant difference between zinc and iron levels. Zinc, copper, iron, and manganese levels in the hair samples of the seborrheic dermatitis group were significantly higher than in the control group. Conclusion: Results have shown that trace elements can contribute to the pathophysiology of seborrheic dermatitis. Malassezia colonization seen in seborrheic dermatitis, irritation, and inflammation may affect the passage and distribution of trace elements.
Background/objectives: Telogen effluvium is a common hair-loss pattern in women. The fact that it is not affected by daily changes and that it reflects the long-term history of a person makes hair a favorable biological sample for the evaluation of levels of trace elements. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the levels of zinc, copper, iron, and ferritin in serum and the levels of zinc, copper, and iron in hair of female patients with chronic telogen effluvium. Materials and methods: A total of 30 healthy female controls and 39 female patients diagnosed by the hairpull test were included in the study. Ferritin levels were obtained by studying the serum samples in an auto-analyzer. Zinc, copper, and iron levels in the hair and serum samples were measured by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: Zinc and copper levels in the serum and hair samples from the chronic telogen effluvium group were significantly lower compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the iron levels between the groups. The levels of serum ferritin were significantly lower in patients with chronic telogen effluvium. The evaluation of the levels of zinc, copper, and iron in the serum and hair samples demonstrated a positive correlation. Conclusion: In this study, it was observed that chronic telogen effluvium was associated with low levels of zinc, copper, and ferritin in serum. The trace element levels in the hair samples were found to reflect the levels of trace elements in the serum.
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