Topical corticosteroids knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians.

OBJECTIVES: To assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of primary care physicians (PCPs) toward topical corticosteroids (TCs). Methods: A cross-sectional, 53-item questionnaire based study on TCs was conducted among PCPs in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between January and March 2015. A maximum score of 30 was calculated for the knowledge portion. Results: Out of 420 PCPs, 336 responded (80%). Most participants (89.6%) reported prescribing TCs. The mean knowledge score was 17.14 (SD=5.48). Only 39% PCPs correctly identified that there are 7 or 4 TCs potency groups (2 different classification systems). The MBBS/MD and diploma-certified physicians scored lower than board-qualified PCPs (p less than 0.05). Family medicine physicians scored higher than general practitioners (GPs) (p less than 0.05). Hospital-based PCPs scored better than private practice PCPs (p less than 0.05). Moreover, those who felt somewhat comfortable (32.5%) in treating dermatology patients were more knowledgeable (p less than 0.05). Lastly, 76.5% of physicians were interested in attending courses on dermatologic therapies.  Conclusion: Knowledge of TCs among PCPs was inadequate. Targeted educational interventions delivered by dermatologists are recommended.

PHACES syndrome in association with airway hemangioma: First report from Saudi Arabia and literature review.

"PHACES" is a neurocutaneous syndrome that refers to the following associations: Posterior fossa malformations, Hemangiomas, Arterial malformations, Coarctation of the aorta/Cardiac defects, Eye abnormalities, and Sternal defects. Herein, we report the association of PHACES syndrome with airway hemangioma, a serious association that should not be overlooked. The findings of such an association presented here are the first to be reported from Saudi Arabia.

Acne scars in ethnic skin treated with both non-ablative fractional 1,550 nm and ablative fractional CO2 lasers: comparative retrospective analysis with recommended guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Fractional technology has changed the dermatologists view in how to treat acne scars in ethnic skin as a result of its favorable safety profile. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-ablative fractional (NAF) 1,550 nm and ablative fractional (AF) CO(2) Lasers in the treatment of acne scars in ethnic skin. METHODOLOGY: In this retrospective analysis patients with acne scars who were treated with NAF 1,550 nm or AF CO(2) lasers from January 2008 until July 2009 were included. Evaluation was made through comparing pre- and post-photographs and physician global assessment. Patients' satisfaction rate was also recorded. Assessment of improvement was based on a quartile grading scale. Bleaching creams and oral antibiotics were routinely given after each session. Adverse effects were recorded. Follow up visits were scheduled at weeks 1 and 4 of each session and 12 weeks post-last session. RESULTS: A total of 82 patients were recruited in the study. Forty-five patients treated with NAF 1,550 nm laser and 37 patients with AF CO(2) laser. Skin phototype was mainly type IV (III-V). An overall patient satisfaction was 71% for NAF 1,550 nm laser group and 65% for AF CO(2) laser group. Thirty-five percent and 37% of patients attained more than 50% improvement with NAF 1,550 nm and AF CO(2) lasers, respectively. Patients treated with NAF 1,550 nm laser had less down time. Transient post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) was noted in 17% of patients treated with NAF 1,550 nm laser compared to 14% with AF CO(2) . CONCLUSION: Both NAF 1,550 nm and AF CO(2) lasers are effective in treating acne scars in ethnic skin with good patient satisfaction rate and high safety profile. PIH decreased with routine use of prophylactic bleaching creams. Fractional laser resurfacing open a wide horizon for treating acne scars in ethnic skin.