Various plant and seed extracts are utilized for skin care, cosmesis, and alternative skin therapy. One of the most used in Nigeria and many other countries in Sub-Saharan African is shea butter, a thick yellowish butter produced from the nuts of the Shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa). Shea butter is a well-known multipurpose skin care item in many African countries, and it is believed to have several skin maintenance and healing properties. The taxonomic and physicochemical properties of shea butter are documented in Table 1. 1,2 Shea butter has been shown to have both emollient and occlusive properties which enables it to trap moisture in the epidermal layers of the skin. 3,4 Shea butter was found superior to mineral oil in preventing trans-epidermal water Loss (TEWL). 5 Shea butter was recommended for repairing dry inflamed skin caused by dermatitis and as a nighttime T A B L E 1 Shea butter: taxonomic and physicochemical properties Taxonomy of the African Shea Tree Family; Genus Sapotaceae; Vitellaria. Species Vitellaria paradoxa. Subspecies V. paradoxa paradoxa and V. paradoxa nilotica. Former name/ Synonym Butyrospermum parkii; B. paradoxum. Regions found Semi and sub-humid savannas of subsaharan Africa. Main producing countries Ghana, Senegal, Nigeria.
Introduction: Skin cancers are uncommon in Africans and dark-skinned people but when diagnosed they often have a poor prognosis. Darker skin has increased photoprotection against the high-intensity ultraviolet radiation (UVR) of the tropics and the subtropics due to high eumelanin content. While UVR has been found to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous malignancies in Caucasians, it is of less significance in Africans.
The effect of acne vulgaris on the quality of life of adult females is not readily documented nor the factors that impair quality of life in these adult females. The aim of this study was to document quality of life impairment and the factors that affect this quality of life in adult female acne patients. The study was a prospective cross sectional study of 56 adult female acne patients aged 25 years and above. Socio-demographic data, clinical examination were documented with a study proforma. Quality of life was assessed using Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI). Data was analysed using SPSS version 22. Mean of independent groups were compared using Students ‘t’ test while Chi squared test was used to compare categorical variables. For all statistical tests, P value <0.05 was adjudged to be significant. The mean age of the participants was 33.4± 8.2 and mean CADI was 6.6±3.8, minimum CADI was 2 and maximum was 15. Quality of life impairment was mild, moderate and severe in 35.7%, 37.5% and 26.8% respectively. The items affected in the CADI index were questions about “Perception of how bad pimples were,” “Feelings about appearance of skin,” and “Aggression, frustration and embarrassment.” Factors associated with quality of life impairment were age, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, presence of scarring. Quality of life is impaired by acne in adult females. This impairment is made worse by age, presence of scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and not marital status, level of education and a family history of acne.
Background: Urticaria is a recurrent pruritic skin disease characterised by wheals and or angioedema. The recurrent nature of urticaria, pruritus and wheals impacts negatively on the quality of life of patients. Prevalence studies, type, trigger factors and patient related factors including serum IgE vary depending on site of study. These factors were not documented in our patients. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical characteristics of our urticaria patients and determine the proportion of urticaria patients who have elevated Sr IgE, Eosinophilia, Basophilia, Hepatitis B and C virus seropositivity. Also, to correlate elevated Sr IgE with age, gender, presence of atopy, dermographism, type of urticaria, raised eosinophil count and resolution with anti-histamines. Methods: A retrospective case review was conducted on 43 patients who attended the dermatology outpatient clinic from January 2017 to December 2018. The sociodemographic and clinical parameters of patients was documented using a questionnaire. Investigation results (Sr IgE levels, Eosinophil and Basophil counts, Hepatitis B and C virus seropositivity, stool ova and parasite) were extracted from cases records. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Univariate descriptive statistics such as means, medians, frequencies and proportions are presented. Results: Prevalence of urticaria was 4.2% and the mean age of the patients was 40.6±15.6 years. Patients were made up 62.8% males and 37.2% females. A history of atopy was noted in 34.9%, urticaria was acute and chronic in 4.7% and 95.3% respectively. Angioedema was present in 44.2% and absent in 53.5%. Majority of the patients (67.4%) were treated with anti-histamines. Serum IgE was elevated in 43.8%, Eosinophilia in 27.30%, Basophilia in 0%, hepatitis B seropositivity in 10%, hepatitis C seropositivity in 0% and a positive stool ova/parasite test in 2.3%. Conclusions: Urticaria is more prevalent in males. Prevalence is more in those over 40 years of age and prevalence increases with age. Atopy and angioedema is demonstrable in some patients. Basophilia is low in urticaria. Eosinophilia and a raised serum IgE is found in some patients. Parasitology is low in urticaria.
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