BACKGROUND: Our local calamansi's pulps contain tannin which has been found to have antifungal activity.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of calamansi pulp extract cream in the treatment of tinea versicolor.
METHODS: This was a prospective, open-label pilot study. Safety of 20 percent, 40 percent and 80 percent tannin from calamansi pulp was done using patch test. The 40 percent tannin cream determined safe was used for the phase 2 clinical trial. Patients with tinea versicolor applied the test cream twice daily and was re-evaluated weekly for 4-weeks.
RESULTS: Of the 100 volunteers who underwent patch testing, six subjects developed significant irritancy with the 80 percent tannin cream (p= 0.016). The 20 percent and 40 percent tannin creams were deemed safe for topical application. Fifteen patients underwent the 2nd phase evaluation for efficacy using 40 percent tannin cream. Weekly mean global assessment score showed significant clinical improvement from baseline and after the 4-weeks study (p= 0.000). At week 4, clinical cure had occurred in 93 percent (95 percent CI, 81-106) of subjects, mycologic cure in 100 percent (95 percent CI, 100) and complete cure in 93 percent (95 percent CI, 81-106).
CONCLUSION: The 20 percent and 40 percent tannin extracts are safe for topical application. The 40 percent calamansi pulp extract cream is effective against tinea versicolor after 4-weeks of use.

Human ; Citrus ; Eukaryota ; Plants ; Antifungal Agents ; Patch Tests ; Pilot Projects ; Prospective Studies ; Tannins ; Tinea Pedis ; Tinea Versicolor ; Volunteers ; Angiosperms ; Rutaceae

Introduction: Ageing is a progressive degenerative process that leads to decline in the physiological function and reserve capacity of the whole body system, including the skin. As the Filipino geriatric population escalates, the incidence of skin diseases becomes more widely acknowledged. Presently, there are only a few studies that have been reported locally describing the nature of geriatric dermatoses. Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of dermatologic conditions among Filipino elderly patients that prompted a consult at the ambulatory care service of a tertiary hospital between the years 2014 and 2018. Methodology: All Filipino elderly patients with dermatological conditions seen at the dermatology ambulatory care service from 2014 to 2018 was studied through a single-center, retrospective, descriptive study. Results: Elderly patients comprised 16.76% of the total patients who sought dermatological consultation at the ambulatory care service of the hospital. Majority of the patients were females. Xerosis/xerotic eczema (10.02%) was the most frequently encountered skin disease. The top 10 diseases were irritant contact dermatitis (7.00%), lichen simplex chronicus (6.67%), psoriasis (5.56%), seborrheic dermatitis (5.24%), allergic contact dermatitis (4.37%), tinea pedis (3.51%), herpes zoster (3.49%), seborrheic keratosis (3.23%), and milia (2.54%). Based on the nature of disease, inflammatory condition was the most commonly seen. Conclusion Dermatological disorders are ubiquitous in older people with a significant impact on the quality of life. Inflammatory dermatoses comprise a wide array of skin diseases as evidenced in this study, which account for most of the cutaneous problems in the elderly. Similar to other epidemiological studies, xerosis/xerotic eczema still comprises majority of the cases prompting elderly patients to seek a dermatological consultation.
Aged ; Epidemiology