Assessment of the effects of bean extract on axillary hair reduction.

Objective: Body hair removal plays an important role in beauty standards, particularly for women. Finding a method that is easy to use, cheap, and can be done without supervision can significantly affect long-term hair reduction and reduce the side effects of hair removal. The present study investigated the impact of a containing 20% broad bean (Vicia faba) extract cream on axillary hair removal. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five female volunteers were randomly divided into A (right axillary intervention - left axillary placebo) and B (right axillary placebo - left axillary intervention). Depending on the group, each person used a cream containing 20% broad bean extract )"The extract made from the seeds and pods of broad beans.") on one side and a placebo on the other twice a day for three months. Volunteers shaved their axillary hairs three days before each visit and took pictures of both sides on the day of the visit with a trichoscope (to check the diameter and thickness of the hairs). Results: We found a decrease in thickness on the intervention group (the axilla where a cream containing broad bean extract was applied); however, this difference was not significant between the intervention side and the placebo. In terms of the number of hairs, the difference between the two groups was significant only in the second month despite the decrease on the intervention side. Evaluation based on the personal judgment of the volunteers showed that there was a substantial difference in terms of the number of hairs (p=0.012) and thinning of hair (p=0.02). Conclusion: Our findings showed that 20% broad bean extract cream could potentially reduce axillary hair growth.

Evaluating the efficacy of photodynamic therapy with indocyanine green in the treatment of keloid.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with topical indocyanine green (ICG) in the treatment of keloid lesions. METHODS: In this pilot study, fifteen keloids (6 lesions on the sternal area, 3 on the shoulders, 2 on the abdomen, 2 on the legs, and 2 on the forearms) were selected. To enhance drug penetration, pretreatment with CO2 laser was performed. Then Lesions were covered with 0.2% transfersomal ICG gel with 1 mm thickness and occluded with light-proof plastic nylon for 2 h. Afterward, it was wiped off and underwent photodynamic therapy with source LumaCare with 730 nm probe and fluence of 23 J/cm2 every week for 6 sessions. Patients were also assessed 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment for any recurrences. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) was used to evaluate the scars. RESULTS: The mean POSAS score significantly reduced by 23.69% from 46.86 at baseline to 35.76 at the 6th treatment session (P< 0.001). The mean scores of patient and observer overall opinion significantly decreased by 16.35% (P< 0.001) and 12.31% (P = 0.001) respectively. No side effects were observed during treatment and after 3 months of follow-ups. After discontinuation of therapy, the mean score of POSAS significantly increased by 13.77% to 40.80. (P = 0.001) CONCLUSION: According to our study, ICG-PDT is an effective and safe treatment for keloid. However, due to the recurrence following discontinuation of treatment, further studies are needed.