Divergent in situ expression of IL-31 and IL-31RA between bullous pemphigoid and pemphigus vulgaris.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are two major autoimmune blistering skin diseases. Unlike PV, BP is accompanied by intense pruritus, suggesting possible involvement of the pruritogenic cytokine IL-31. However, the underlying mechanisms of the clinical difference between BP and PV in terms of pruritus are not fully understood. To compare the expression levels of IL-31 and its receptor IL-31RA in the lesional skin, including peripheral nerves in BP and PV patients, immunohistochemical staining for IL-31 and IL-31RA was performed in skin samples of BP and PV patients and healthy controls (HC). The IL-31RA-expressing area in epidermis and peripheral nerves was analysed using ImageJ and the percentage of positive cells for IL-31/IL-31RA in dermal infiltrating cells was manually quantified. Quantitative analyses revealed that IL-31/IL-31RA expressions in the epidermis and dermal infiltrate were significantly increased in BP compared to PV and HC. The difference between BP and PV became more obvious when advanced bullous lesions were compared. Peripheral nerves in BP lesions presented significantly higher IL-31RA expression compared to PV lesions. In conclusion, we found significantly augmented expressions of IL-31/IL-31RA in BP lesions, including peripheral nerves, in comparison to PV. These results suggest a possible contribution of IL-31/IL-31RA signalling to the difference between BP and PV in the facilitation of pruritus and local skin inflammation, raising the possibility of therapeutic targeting of the IL-31/IL-31RA pathway in BP patients.

Knowledge levels and concerns about oral isotretinoin treatment in the parents of adolescent acne patients.

Oral isotretinoin is frequently used in the treatment of young acne patients. However, knowledge levels and attitudes about this treatment have not been studied in the parents previously. We aimed to investigate the knowledge levels and concerns about oral isotretinoin in the parents of adolescent acne patients. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 136 parents of adolescent patients with moderate to very severe acne vulgaris who answered the questionnaire about oral isotretinoin treatment. Demographic data and acne characteristics were recorded. The parents' knowledge levels and concerns about the treatment process were asked by the questionnaire. Since 32 parents have never heard oral isotretinoin before, they were excluded from the study. Of the remaining 104 parents, 80.8% were female and 19.2% were male. Of the parents, 62.5% had some concerns about oral isotretinoin treatment and 34.6% had no idea whether the drug is suitable for the use of <18 years. 52.9% stated that they think the drug will damage the liver. The most known and worrying side effects were dry lips and vision problems, respectively. The knowledge levels about oral isotretinoin treatment and its side effects were low in the parents of adolescent acne patients, leading to prejudice to the drug.

Influence of Social Media and Internet on Treatment Decisions in Adult Female Acne Patients: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

INTRODUCTION: Adult female acne is a chronic condition that significantly impacts quality of life. The content on social media can influence patients perception of their disease and serve as a channel through which they may seek or obtain treatment options. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the impact of social media usage habits on treatment decisions among adult female acne patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional, multicenter survey study involved 358 females aged 25 or above, diagnosed with acne. Sociodemographic data were collected, and social media behavior, treatment choices, outcomes, and motivation were explored. RESULTS: Among 358 participants, 95.3% used at least 1 social media platform; 72.1% sought acne information online. Top platforms used to seek acne information were Google (75.6%), Instagram (72.3%), YouTube (60%), and TikTok (29.4%). For advice, 67.4% consulted doctor accounts, 53.5% non-medical influencers, 53.5% patient accounts, and 36.1% product promotion accounts. Commonly followed advice included skincare products (88%), dietary changes (42.3%), home remedies (38.8%), exercise (30.3%), topical medications (25.2%), and dietary supplements (17.4%). Notably, 20.9% were willing to alter prescribed treatment by their physician for acne based on social media advice. Patient motivations included quick information access (84.1%) and difficulty in securing dermatologist appointments (54.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals widespread social media use among adult female acne patients, highlighting concerns about potentially misleading information. Dermatologists can enhance the impact of social media by providing reliable sources for patients.