Evaluation of the Clinical and Sociodemographic Features of Turkish Patients with Vitiligo

Vitiligo is an acquired, pigmentary skin disorder that affects about 0.1-4.0% of the population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the disease features such as age of onset, disease duration, clinical and sociodemographic characteristics, and laboratory parameters of patients with vitiligo. A hundred patients who were in follow-up for vitiligo between the period of June 2013 and May 2014 were included in the study. The clinical features and laboratory parameters were retrospectively obtained from the records of the patients. The mean age was 34.9±16.8 years. The most common clinical types were focal and acrofacial. Facial involvement was the most common localization. Forty-five (45%) patients had an associated systemic disease. Autoimmune thyroid disease, essential hypertension, and alopecia  areata, which were observed in 28%, 8%, and 5% of patients, respectively, were the most common associated diseases. Twenty-one percent of the patients had low ferritin levels, 20% had low iron levels, 12% had low vitamin B12 levels, and 1% had low folic acid levels. The prevalence of anti-TG (anti-thyroglobulin) and anti-TPO (anti-thyroid peroxidase) antibodies were found 17% and 27% of the patients, respectively. We found that the clinical characteristics of vitiligo in our patients were similar to those in other studies. We observed laboratory abnormalities and accompanying diseases associated with vitiligo. Therefore we conclude that laboratory examinations including thyroid antibodies and regular follow-up of these patients are essential.</div

Acrokeratoelastoidosis and focal acral hyperkeratosis: Report of two cases

Acrokeratoelastoidosis (AKE) and focal acral hyperkeratosis (FAH) are rare type of palmoplantar keratodermas. AKE and FAH show similar clinical features and identical histologic dermal alterations. However, FAH lacks elastorrhexis, a major distinguishing feature between the two. We herein report a sporodic AKE in a 62 year-old female and a sporodic FAH in a 41-year-old female

The state of occupational dermatoses in Turkey

Due to the difficulties in diagnosing occupational diseases and deficiencies in statistical data, occupational diseases are underreported in Turkey. The average number of records in our country is around 10, when at least 100.000 new occupational skin diseases need to be diagnosed annually. This is due to the shortcomings in the diagnosis and notification of the occupational diseases in our country. In this article, we analyzed occupational skin diseases and their International Classification of Diseases codes, and how they are diagnosed medically and legally, and the difficulties in diagnosing these diseases. The article emphasizes that the dermatologists should be trained in occupational diseases and occupational health codes in order to improve diagnosing and reporting occupational diseases

Evaluation of anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with acne vulgaris, and quality of life in their families

Background/Objectives: Dermatological diseases not only affect patients' lives but also the lives of their family members. Our aim was to evaluate anxiety and depression risk in patients with acne vulgaris and the effect of acne vulgaris on quality of life of the patients and their families. Methods: A total of 125 patients with acne vulgaris, 110 of their family members, and 100 healthy volunteers were included in the study. Patients with acne vulgaris were requested to complete the Acne Quality of Life Scale (AQOL) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) at the time of the first admission and 2 months later. The healthy volunteers were only asked to complete the HAD, and the family members filled out the Family Dermatology Life Quality Index (FDLQI) at the time of the first admission and 2 months later. Results: The acne and control groups showed no significant differences between the HAD anxiety subscale (HAD-A) and HAD depression subscale (HAD-D) scores. The mean AQOL score of the patients was 6.8 ± 5.3. AQOL scores were positively correlated with HAD-A, HAD-D and FDLQI scores. The mean score of the FDLQI was 7.6 ± 5.3. FDLQI scores showed a statistically significant change after 2 months (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Acne vulgaris does not have an effect on quality of life and the risk of anxiety or depression. In the cases of acne, when the quality of life decreases, the risk of depression as well as anxiety increases and the quality of life of the family members is negatively affected. Acne vulgaris negatively affects the quality of life of the family members of the patients

Zosteriform collagen nevus in a young boy

Zosterifom connective tissue nevus is a rare kind of connective tissue nevi composed of collagen, elastin, or glycosaminoglycan, which was first reported by Steiner 1944. Herein, we report a young boy with a collagen nevus that presented in a zosteriform distribution