Evaluation of biophysical skin parameters and hair changes in patients with acne vulgaris treated with isotretinoin, and the effect of biotin use on these parameters.

AIM: Impairment of biotin metabolism with the use of isotretinoin and the mucocutaneous side effects observed in patients using isotretinoin suggests that they are a result of decreased enzyme activity. We aimed to determine the pattern of skin and hair changes in patients with acne receiving isotretinoin and how these changes were affected by biotin added to the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients were divided into two groups. Each group contained 30 patients. Groups A and B received 0.5 mg/kg/day isotretinoin, and 10 mg/day biotin supplement was added to Group B. Both groups were evaluated using a digital dermoscope for hair changes and with a DermaLab® Combo device for transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin retraction, skin hydration, and skin sebum levels at the beginning and end of the fourth month. RESULTS: In group B, the anagen hair ratio increased (P = 0.034) and the telogen hair ratio decreased significantly (P = 0.003). Skin sebum and the skin retraction values decreased in both groups. Skin hydration decreased significantly in group A (P = 0.001), but there was no significant decrease in group B (P = 0.43). CONCLUSION: Biotin (10 mg/day) given in addition to isotretinoin treatment decreased telogen and increased anagen hair rates and helped to maintain skin hydration. The use of 10 mg/day biotin can prevent the mucocutaneous adverse effects of isotretinoin treatment.

P wave dispersion, Tpeak-Tend interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio in children with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, multi-system disease that often begins in childhood and characterised by inflammatory skin, nails, scalp, and joint manifestations. The inflammation in psoriasis may promote some effect on the cardiac conduction system. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate myocardial repolarisation anomaly on the conducting system in the paediatric psoriasis using P wave dispersion, Tpeak-Tend interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio. METHODS: Forty-two patients diagnosed with psoriasis and 37 age- and sex-matched healthy children were enrolled in the study. Electrocardiographic parameters in psoriasis and control group were recorded from an electrocardiogram for each patient. RESULTS: The results indicated that the parameters including Pdis, QTc dis, Tp-e dis interval, and Tp-e max/QTmax ratios, which are known to be key indicators for the prediction of severe atrial or ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death and also important parameters used as the indicators for the non-invasive evaluation of the transmural heterogeneity were significantly longer in the study group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study includes the evidence linking psoriasis with increased myocardial repolarisation heterogeneity. These findings suggest that this patient population may be at an increased risk for arrhythmias. Our findings may be a basis for further studies.