Age and gender influence on HIDRAdisk outcomes in adalimumab-treated hidradenitis suppurativa patients.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory skin disease characterized by a significant impairment of patients' quality of life (QoL). It has been recently found that clinical severity of HS does not correlate well with QoL. Therefore, it is important to enhance the evaluation of severity considering the disease burden on QoL. Recently, a new graphical tool able to better describe HS burden, the so-called HIDRAdisk, has been introduced. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of HIDRAdisk in clinical practice before and after treatment and to analyse whether specific factors such as age and gender may influence the outcomes in patients with moderate-to-severe HS. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study on 24 patients (13F/11M, mean age 38 ± 15 years) with moderate-to-severe HS was performed. Clinical data (disease severity and quality of life) were collected at baseline and after 12 weeks of adalimumab. RESULTS: HIDRAdisk showed significantly better improvements in males (69.8 ± 6.2-49.6 ± 10.8) compared to females (80.7 ± 6.0-72.3 ± 6.7), P <0.001. A significant correlation was found in the total population between HS severity values measured through the modified Sartorius score (mSS) and QoL measured through HIDRAdisk. As regards the relationship between disease outcomes and age, a trend for better HIDRAdisk outcomes in younger patients (<40 years) compared to older ones was observed. CONCLUSIONS: HIDRAdisk appears as a complete and informative tool which can easily measure the global burden of HS, guiding treatment choice and evaluating its efficacy.

Low glycaemic diet and metformin therapy: a new approach in male subjects with acne resistant to common treatments.

Acne is a common and complex skin disease, with a very complex pathogenesis. Although in women the relationship between acne and insulin resistance is well known, in particular in women with PCOS, in males this relationship has been poorly investigated. In total, 20 subjects with an altered metabolic profile were considered for this study and randomized as follows: 10 patients were treated with metformin plus a hypocaloric diet for 6 months (group A), while 10 patients did not receive any treatment with metformin and were only followed up (group B). All patients of group A, after 6 months of metformin therapy, had a statistically significant improvement compared with patients in group B. Our study reveals the importance of diet and insulin resistance in acne pathogenesis, and underlines the possible use of metformin and diet as possible adjuvant therapy for male patients with acne.

A dietary supplement to reduce side effects of oral isotretinoin therapy in acne patients.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to analyze the potential capacity of a dietary supplement, based on gamma linolenic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10 and Vitis Vitifera, to reduce side effects, in particular the dry skin, erythema and desquamation, due to treatment with oral isotretinoin, and evaluate the ability of the product to increase adherence to therapy in patients with acne. METHODS: Forty-eight patients with nodular acne (32 females and 16 males) were randomly divided into 2 groups: 24 received isotretinoin therapy (20-30 mg/day) for 6 months associated to dietary supplement (twice a day), while the other 24 patients received only isotretinoin (20-30 mg/day) for 6 months. For all patients the degree of acne severity, through GAGS (Global Acne Grading System), the sebum production by Sebutape, the hydration by Corneometer and the erythema by Mexameter, were measured. We have also evaluated the adherence to treatment, asking to patients how many days a week they follow the therapy. RESULTS: Patients treated with dietary supplement had lower side effects, with a less degree of erythema and dryness, and greater degree of hydration; a greater adherence to therapy was also reported. CONCLUSION: Thanks to antioxidant and moisturizing properties, the dietary supplement containing gamma linolenic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, betacarotene, coenzyme Q10 and Vitis Vitifera, can be considered a useful supplement in the treatment and prevention of dry skin associated with the use of oral isotretinoin.

Female pattern hair loss: A clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic review.

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of alopecia in women. Affected women may experience psychological distress and impaired social functioning. Early diagnosis and initiation of treatment are desirable because treatments are more effective to avoid the progression of hair loss than stimulating regrowth. Typically, a diagnosis of FPHL can be confirmed by review of a patient's medical history and a physical examination alone. Testing a scalp biopsy is diagnostic but usually not required. In women with signs of hyperandrogenism, an investigation for ovarian or adrenal disorders should be performed. Treatment for FPHL is obscured by myths. The aim of FPHL treatment could be two-fold: Reverse or stabilize the process of hair follicle miniaturization. Mild-to-moderate FPHL in women can be treated with oral antiandrogen therapies (cyproterone acetate and spironolactone) and/or topical minoxidil with good results in many cases. If used correctly, available medical treatments arrest the progression of the disease and reverse miniaturization in most patients with mild-to-moderate FPHL. Hair systems and surgery may be considered for selected cases of severe FPHL.