title: Comparative study of skin sebum and elasticity level in patients with sulfur mustard-induced dermatitis and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sulfur mustard (SM) - a chemical agent - has both acute and chronic effects on skin. Xerosis, which is deemed to be due to the damage of hydrolipidic barrier of the skin, is the most common complaint of veterans exposed to the chemical. This study was designed to evaluate skin sebum and elasticity in veterans with a history of SM contact.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and ten subjects were enrolled in this study and were divided into four groups: SM-exposed patients with current skin lesions (n=87); SM-exposed patients without skin lesions (n=71); patients with dermatitis (n=78); and normal controls (n=74). The skin sebum and elasticity were measured in four areas (forehead, suprasternal, palm and back of the hands) using a Sebumeter and a Reviscometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Skin sebum was higher in participants who presented with dermatitis and had history of contact with SM than others; the difference was only statistically significant on the forehead. There was no significant difference in the skin elasticity between the four groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While SM may increase skin sebum in long term, there is no evidence that it has a substantial effect on skin elasticity.
authors.affiliation: Research Center of Chemical Injuries, Baghiat-Allah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Masoud
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Davoudi
authors.forename: Bardia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadr
authors.forename: Mohammad R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Hayatbakhsh
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shohrati
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Naghizadeh
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Babakoohi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rashighi-Firouzabadi
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Firooz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D005546:Forehead; D006229:Hand Dermatoses / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007057:Ichthyosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009151:Mustard Gas / Q000633:toxicity*; D012629:Sebum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013909:Thorax; D013997:Time Factors; D014857:Warfare
chemical_list: D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D009151:Mustard Gas