Keyword: skin

Essential Oils and their Components in Combating Fungal Pathogens of Human Skin-lipophilic Yeast Malassezia furfur

The most common problem of modern medicine is the development of increasing antifungal drug resistance nowadays including fungal infections of the skin and its appendages caused by dermatomycetes, yeast-like fungi, and molds so, there will be a need for alternative antifungal treatment. Natural substances with high antifungal properties like essential oils and their components show potential in this regard. Citrus lemon and Citrus sinensis essential oils were screened against Malassezia furfur by disc diffusion method and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was determined by Modified Microdilution method. Citrus lemon (lemon) and Citrus sinensis (orange) show excellent inhibitory effects on the lipophilic, yeast-like fungus Malassezia furfur which causes Pityriasis versicolor, a chronic superficial fungal disease of the skin. The diameter of the inhibition zone was found to be 70 mm and 60 mm respectively. Malassezia furfur was found to be resistant against Clotrimazole & Ketoconazole. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of lemon and orange oil against Malassezia furfur was found to be 0.6 µl/ml and 0.8 µl/ml. These findings concluded that the use of Citrus lemon (lemon) and Citrus sinensis (orange) oil showed remarkable and excellent antifungal activity, and can be used as a traditional herbal medicine for the control of Pityriasis versicolor infection of the skin after undergoing clinical trials.

The Role of Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography (US) is one of the most widely utilized imaging methods in contemporary medical practice. Unlike other imaging techniques primarily within the radiology domain, ultrasonography has been adopted by various medical and surgical specialties and tailored to the specific needs of each. This adaptability has contributed to ultrasonography's rapid diversification and remarkable evolution over recent decades. Ultrasonography was first employed in dermatology in 1979 when Alexander et al. used it to measure skin thickness. However, due to the limitations of conventional ultrasound devices at the time, which had resolutions and frequencies below 15 MHz, detailed elements of the skin could not be analyzed, tempering enthusiasm for the technique [2]. Modern dermatologic ultrasonography began with the development of fixed-frequency devices operating above 20 MHz, enabling detailed visualization of skin structures. Numerous studies on skin physiology and pathophysiology were conducted using this approach. Modern ultrasonography enables us to visualize skin structures, at times surpassing the detail provided by traditional anatomical dissections in educational settings. Given that patient safety and quality medical care remain fundamental priorities, ultrasonography, with its safety profile and versatility, represents the next step in modern dermatology. Ultrasonography represents a rapidly evolving diagnostic tool that holds the promise of significantly improving diagnostic accuracy and the quality of medical dermatology practice.