Naseema Kapadia, Abu Talib.
Acneiform Eruptions: A Hazard of beauty creams.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;18(1):33-35.

Background: Adolescent and post adolescent females visit Dermatologist frequently with white comedones and inflamed papules, situated mainly on cheeks and forehead. Most of these patients admit to development of these lesions after the use of a beauty cream, applied to improve their complexion. Objective: The objective of this study was to establish the incidence of skin lesions following the use of beauty creams, duration of use, frequency of application, distribution of lesions, types of lesions, and the source/advice about the use of beauty creams. Materials & Methods: This is a prospective study which lasted four months and was conducted in the Dermatology OPD of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital (Karachi Medical & Dental College). The subjects underwent a thorough clinical history and dermatological examination regarding type and distribution of lesions. They were asked to identify the products (beauty creams and the steroid preparation) used. Those who could not identify the preparations were excluded from the study. All those patients who had any sort of lesions on the face prior to the use of the beauty cream were also excluded. Results: Fifty patients were enrolled in the study which were divided into two groups group- A which used beauty cream alone (15 patients), and group -B which used beauty cream with an admixture of a steroid (35 patients). Acneiform eruptions were commonly seen in both groups 30% in group A and 70% in group B. The average duration of application was 3.7 months in group A (range 1-6 months) and 2 months in groups B (range 1-4months). Most subjects used single night time application. The predominant lesions were white comedones (100% in both groups) and inflammed papules (100% in group B and 53.3% in group A). Macular erythema and telangiectasia were (34.2% and 28.5% in-group B) and (26.6% and 0% in-group A). The cheeks and forehead were universally involved in all patients (100%) and chin in (17% group B and 26% in-group A). Majorities of the subjects belong to the middle and low-income families. Conclusions: Acneiform eruption developed in 30% of subjects using beauty creams alone and 70% of subjects who mixed steroids in their beauty cream.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com