VITAMIN A DERIVATIVES USE IN THE TREATMENT OF SKIN CONDITIONS

Retinoids are used to treat various skin diseases. They add valuable impact of when used early in the treatment of dermatological conditions. Overall vitamin A derivatives are underused, with isotretinoin is the most used. This paper aims to develop prescribers’ knowledge about their benefits, to improve their usability and aids in alleviating patient concerns to improve therapeutic outcomes in dermatological conditions. In acne vulgaris, adapalene gel and tretinoin cream showed equal efficacy. In psoriasis the combination of acitretin and PUVA was superior to PUVA alone. Acitretin showed a reduction of 41% in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and similar efficacy to potent steroids and calcipotriol. In chronic hand eczema, alitretinoin showed 50% improvement in patient’s refractory to steroid treatment. In photoaging and aging, retinoids were shown to increase the synthesis and decrease the degradation rate of collagen and hyaluronate, reducing the impact of aging. In rosacea, topical and systemic isotretinoin showed complete remission in 24% of the patients compared to only 14 % with antibiotics (metronidazole and doxycycline). In lichen planus, isotretinoin demonstrated clinical and histopathological efficacy. In cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, bexarotene used alone or with PUVA or narrow band UVB, showed a response between 80.0% to 84.0%. Lastly in Kaposi sarcoma alitretinoin gel showed superiority to all other agents and better tolerance. This review highlights the benefit of timely use of vitamin A derivatives to encourage wider use

Management of Adult Chronic Urticaria: Practical Approach

Chronic urticaria is an itchy inflammatory skin condition, also known as hives, weal’s, welts or nettle rash. The main symptom is raised blotchy rash which can be intensely itchy. Its cause is unknown, although it can be triggered by an allergen, physical triggers, underlying health conditions or drugs. Several serious conditions can lead to anaphylaxis which is a medical emergency. Chronic urticaria can be difficult to manage hence there are different approaches for its management. Many still use unlicensed medications to control the condition. We are putting forward a practical approach in the management of this challenging medical problem

Vitamin A derivatives use in the treatment of skin conditions

Retinoids are used to treat various skin diseases. They add valuable impact of when used early in the treatment of dermatological conditions. Overall vitamin A derivatives are underused, with isotretinoin is the most used. This paper aims to develop prescribers’ knowledge about their benefits, to improve their usability and aids in alleviating patient concerns to improve therapeutic outcomes in dermatological conditions. In acne vulgaris, adapalene gel and tretinoin cream showed equal efficacy. In psoriasis the combination of acitretin and PUVA was superior to PUVA alone. Acitretin showed a reduction of 41% in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index and similar efficacy to potent steroids and calcipotriol. In chronic hand eczema, alitretinoin showed 50% improvement in patient’s refractory to steroid treatment. In photoaging and aging, retinoids were shown to increase the synthesis and decrease the degradation rate of collagen and hyaluronate, reducing the impact of aging. In rosacea, topical and systemic isotretinoin showed complete remission in 24% of the patients compared to only 14 % with antibiotics (metronidazole and doxycycline). In lichen planus, isotretinoin demonstrated clinical and histopathological efficacy. In cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, bexarotene used alone or with PUVA or narrow band UVB, showed a response between 80.0% to 84.0%. Lastly in Kaposi sarcoma alitretinoin gel showed superiority to all other agents and better tolerance. This review highlights the benefit of timely use of vitamin A derivatives to encourage wider use

Drug induced dermatological reaction of the 100 most commonly prescribed medications in UK hospitals

Objective: It is commonly reported that medicines have side effects related to dermatological practice. However, it is extremely difficult to establish how commonly, or rarely skin-related medication side effects occur. Common dermatological side effects include rash, pruritus, and photosensitivity. Objective: To demonstrate the dermatological side-effects of the most commonly prescribed medications in the United Kingdom. Methods: This paper discusses dermatological side-effects of the commonly prescribed medications, including uncommon or rare manifestations such as angioedema and Stevens - Johnson syndrome (SJS). The list used for the most frequently prescribed drugs in the United Kingdom was created by nurses. This list was compared to the British National Formulary to demonstrate the reported frequency of occurrence of dermatological side-effects or complications. Conclusion: The top 100 prescribed medication cause a number of dermatological side effects that need to be considered when they are prescribed to patients who have pre-existing skin conditions. Additionally, when confronted with a common dermatological problem in any patient, clinicians should always consider the possibility of a drug adverse reaction.Published onlin