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Background&Objective: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Iran and there are different systemic and local treatments for this disease. There is continuous investigation for finding the most efficient and economical method with little side effects for the treatment of cutaneous leishemaniasis. For this purpose we performed a comparative study between intralesional glucantime injection and cryotherapy in the treatment of papular cutaneous leishmaniasis. Materials&Methods: In this clinical trial 47 patients with papular cutaneous leishmaniasis refered to dermatology clinic of Ghaem hospital in Mashhad were assayed. All patients had positive direct smears. They divided randomly in two groups. First group treated by weekly intralesional glucantime injection and second group treated by weekly cryotherapy. The length of therapy for two groups was 5 weeks. Two groups were followed for 1.5 months after the last week of the treatment. Results: Thirty eight patients completed the study, 21 patients with 35 lesions and 17 patients with 36 lesions were treated by interalesional injection of glucantime and cryotherapy respectively. Clinically in interalesional glucantime group 37.1% of lesions and in cryotherapy group 22.2% of lesions completely cured. The difference between two groups was not statistically significant using chi-square test. Conclusion: Cryotherapy in comparison with interalesional glucantime injection is equally effective and also is cheaper with little side effect.

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Background and Objective: Superficial pigmented lesions are the most common complaint in dermatology. This study was done to assess the therapeutic effect of cryotherapy in facial lentigo and junctional nevus. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, 100 cases of flat-pigmented lesions with diameters up to 2 mm and after taking a photograph with USB microscope M2 (Scalar) treated with one freeze thaw cycle with liquid nitrogen through an applicator for 2 second in Imam Reza hospital, Mashhad, Iran during 2004-05. The patients were visited 3 times again through 3 successive months. According to the decrease in color of the lesion, patients were divided into 4 groups: sever pigmentation, no response, partial (>50% color loss) and complete response (<50% color loss). Data were analyzed using SPSS-11.5 and Wilcoxon test. Results: 96% of our patients were female and 4% were male. Mean age was 30±11.7 years. Based on Fitzpatrick criteria fifteen patients had type 2, fifty had type 3 and 35 had type 4 skin color. After the period of 3 months follow up, 6% of the patients completely healded, 58% had partial response, 31%with no response and 5% develop hyperpigmentation. Response in patients with type 2 Fitzpatrick skin color was clinically better than type 3 and 4 but this difference was not significant. Conclusion: Cryotherapy is considered as a simple, cost effective and safe therapeutic regiment in treating of 64% facial pigmental lesions.