Skeletal Side Effects of Systemic Isotretinoin Treatment: Do They Depend on Age, Gender, Treatment Duration, Daily Dose and Isotretinoin-Naiveness?

Introduction: Systemic isotretinoin is the most effective treatment modality in acne vulgaris; however, both patients and physicians hesitate to use it due its side effects. Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of fatigue, myalgia and low back pain during systemic isotretinoin treatment; and to determine their relationship with age, gender, treatment duration, daily isotretinoin dose and isotretinoin-naiveness of the patient. Methods: This is a cross sectional study including the acne vulgaris patients, aged between 13 to 40 years, who have at least received one month of oral isotretinoin treatment. Patients were questioned for side effects during their follow-up visits; a physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist further evaluated patients complaining of low back pain. Results: Fatigue was reported by 4.4% of the patients, myalgia by 2.8% and low back pain by 25% of the patients; 2.2% had inflammatory and 22.8% had mechanical low back pain. None of the patients had sacroiliitis. All the side effects that were examined were found to be independent of age, gender, isotretinoin dosage (mg/kg/day), treatment duration and isotretinoin-naiveness. Conclusions: The side effects are not as common as feared; thus, patients and physicians should not hesitate to use systemic isotretinoin in indicated cases.

Comparison of malassezia colonization of 'Maskne' patients with seborrheic dermatitis cases and healthy individuals

Background: With the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of masks has increased the frequency of 'maskne' cases. Local physiological changes due to the use of mask have caused changes in the presence of yeasts in the environment, such as acne and seborrheic dermatitis. Objectives: The aim is to compare the differences of Malassezia species in the maskne region. Materials and Method: A total of 408 subjects wearing masks at least 4 h a day for 6 weeks or longer, compromised of 212 acne patients, 72 seborrheic dermatitis sufferers, and 124 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Swab samples were taken for Malassezia cultures from nasolabial area and their control retro auricular region. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 was used for the statistical analysis. Results: Malassezia species was most frequently found in the nasolabial region of the seborrheic dermatitis group. Malassezia species were more commonly isolated from the nasolabial region of acne and seborrheic dermatitis patients, compared to the retroauricular region of each patient, than the healthy subjects. The rate of M. globosa isolated from the nasolabial region was high in all groups, the isolation rate of M. restricta was low (P < 0.05). Conclusion: As Malassezia species are more commonly isolated from the nasolabial region of acne and seborrheic dermatitis patients, the increasing numbers of Malassezia species will trigger inflammation with an antibody reaction against these yeasts. Treatment of resistant acne and seborrheic dermatitis will be facilitated with the knowledge of this inflammation