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Background: The utilization of low-dose oral minoxidil (LDOM) has emerged as a relatively new treatment option for hair loss, gaining recognition among dermatologists worldwide. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice patterns among dermatologists in Saudi Arabia regarding the use of LDOM in the management of hair loss. Methods: An online survey, which was distributed to dermatologists practicing in Saudi Arabia through email and mobile messages. Both univariate and bivariate analyses were performed to investigate the factors that may be associated with enhanced knowledge and practice patterns concerning the utilization of LDOM for the management of hair loss. Results: A total of 84 dermatologists was included in this study, with 50 (60%) being male. It was found that 83 (99%) of the participants identified patterned hair loss as the most common indication for LDOM usage. Additionally, 77 (92%) recognized hypertrichosis as a well-known side effect. 48 (82%) of the dermatologists had never prescribed LDOM due to its unavailability in local pharmacies. Conclusion: The usage of LDOM for hair disorders is increasing. Nonetheless, many dermatologists abstain from prescribing this medication due to its limited availability in local pharmacies.
RESUMEN
The CO2 laser has been widely utilized in dermatology; its expanding clinical applications include the management of neoplastic lesions, benign growths, cosmetic conditions, and reactive disorders. The laser's popularity is mainly due to the high precision and short recovery time this technology provides. However, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) has been one of the challenging adverse effects of the CO2 laser. Therefore, several modalities have been studied for the prevention of PIH following CO2 laser treatment. This review aims to analyze the incidence of PIH after CO2 laser therapy, identify its risk factors, and assess the efficacy of the examined treatment modalities in preventing PIH. Pubmed and Embase databases were searched for this study, and relative clinical trials were included in the review. Descriptive findings - including age, gender, skin type, types of intervention, and incidence of PIH - were reported. When appropriate, the incidence of PIH was compared across each possible individual factor, such as skin type, gender, and type of intervention. A total of 211 articles were identified, and 14 relevant articles were included in this review. Seventy percent of the subjects were females (n=219), and 30% were males (n=94), with a mean age of 30 years (SD=7.8). The most common skin types were type IV (59%) followed by type III (25%). In total, eight studies investigated the prevention of PIH. The incidence of PIH after CO2 laser significantly varies between studies and differs based on the type of intervention. The studies indicate that the use of Clobetasol propionate 0.05% and fusidic acid cream appeared to effectively reduce PIH, recording an incidence rate of 39% and 53.3%, respectively. The Fitzpatrick-skinphenotype did not appear to influence the risk of PIH. There is a lack of high-powered clinical studies analyzing the incidence of PIH after CO2 laser treatment and the associated risk factors. PIH occurrence may be related to inflammation resulting from thermal damage by the CO2 laser. Consequently, the use of postoperative topical medications with anti-inflammatory properties might reduce its incidence. The use of ultra-potent topical corticosteroids and topical fusidic acid appeared to reduce PIH, possibly reducing postoperative inflammation effectively. Similarly, platelet-containing plasma may be beneficial in reducing CO2 side effects, including PIH. However, more studies are needed to further establish the influence of skin type on PIH and investigate modalities to reduce PIH occurrence after CO2 laser use.
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Introduction: Many cases of telogen effluvium (TE), acute hair shedding, following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reported during the pandemic. Methodology: We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between COVID-19 and TE in Saudi Arabia. Self-administered online questionnaires were distributed online between March and September 2022 in Saudi Arabia. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors associated with TE post-COVID-19 (significance at P < 0.05). Results: Of the 703 responders, 392 were included in the study. 59.70% (n = 234) recognized hair shedding during or after COVID-19. The time taken to realize hair shedding (3 or 6 months) and the duration varied (3, 6, >6 months). The risk factors significantly related to TE post-COVID-19 were: female sex (P < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 2.98), COVID-19 antiviral treatment (P = 0.032, OR = 3.02), and TE history (P = 0.001, OR = 3.78). Conclusion: Healthcare providers and physicians should be aware of the relationship between TE and COVID-19, to easily recognize, treat, and improve their patients' outcomes).