Yesim Akpinar Kara

This multicenter study aimed to evaluate treatment adherence and satisfaction among patients with acne vulgaris. A total of 2,349 patients from 18 dermatology centers across Türkiye completed structured questionnaires. The participants were predominantly female (79.4%) with a mean age of 21.6 years. Overall, 48% reported consistent adherence to therapy, with significantly lower adherence among males (p < 0.001). The most frequent reasons for nonadherence were forgetfulness (28.7%), dislike of the treatment (26.4%), and reluctance to maintain long-term therapy (21.5%). Treatment adherence was positively associated with higher educational levels (p = 0.006) and greater acne severity (p < 0.001). Logistic regression revealed that systemic oral therapy (OR = 4.37, 95% CI: 3.147-6.086; p < 0.001) and oral isotretinoin (OR = 4.81, 95% CI: 3.379-6.869; p < 0.001) significantly increased adherence compared to topical therapy. Oral treatment was also independently associated with greater satisfaction (OR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.767-3.095; p < 0.001). Moreover, mild acne severity (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.216-2.297; p = 0.002) and older age (per year; OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.020-1.088; p = 0.001) predicted higher satisfaction. Systemic therapies-particularly oral isotretinoin-were associated with improved adherence and satisfaction.

Psoriasis vulgaris is an inflammatory skin disease involving the skin, nails, and joints. While nail involvement is observed in 70–80% of patients with psoriasis, the rate of patients with isolated nail involvement is 5–10%. Dystrophies arising in the nails in psoriasis affect the patient’s quality of life, and local and systemic therapies may be used as treatment. Intralesional methotrexate or corticosteroid injection might be an option in the treatment of patients with the involvement of one nail or some nails or without the involvement of the skin and joints, due to the side effects of systemic and biological agents. Herein, we report a female patient with nail psoriasis resistant to a previously applied topical treatment, the efficacy of intralesional methotrexate without the use of a systemic antipsoriatic agent, and no progression of side effects.

Objective: Atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria are allergic skin diseases with recurrent attacks. In this study, disease activity score and laboratory parameters were investigated in patients with atopic dermatitis and chronic spontaneous urticaria. Material and Methods: A total of 68 patients including 33 atopic dermatitis and 35 chronic spontaneous urticaria patients from the dermatology outpatient clinics were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of total immunoglobulin E (IgE), blood eosinophil and basophil counts; prevalence of sensitization to aeroallergens, and disease activity scores were compared between the two groups. Results: A higher eosinophil count in the peripheral blood was observed in atopic dermatitis patients compared to chronic spontaneous urticaria patients. Disease activity scores (SCORAD index) were positively correlated with the eosinophil count and total IgE levels. Furthermore, it was found that the basophil count increased while total IgE levels and SCORAD index scores decreased in the chronic period of the disease. Total IgE levels and SCORAD index scores were higher in atopic dermatitis patients with a positive skin prick test. In chronic spontaneous urticaria patients, it was observed that basophil counts and total IgE levels were correlated, but there was not a correlation between disease activity scores, skin prick test results, and levels of other laboratory parameters. Conclusion: The relationship of serum parameters, especially IgE levels, with the disease activity was found to be significant only in atopic dermatitis.

Acne rosacea is a chronic inflammatory disease that may affect the facial skin, eyes, and eyelids.1 It is characterized by transient or persistent flushing, fac

Objectives: There are many endogenous and exogenous factors that cause acne formation. This study aimed to determine whether the acne severity in patients with various age ranges is associated with serum insulin‐like growth factor, insulin, and glucose and to identify how much they affect the acne severity.Materials and Methods: In this case‐control prospective study, 44 patients with acne vulgaris and 44 age‐ and gender‐matched control subjects without acne were evaluated. Patients and the control group were divided into two age‐groups as adolescence and post‐adolescence. According to the Global Acne Scoring System (GASS) of the acne group, the acne score grades between 0 and 44 were calculated. The correlations between the IGF‐1, insulin, glucose levels, and acne grades were calculated in each group.Results: In our study, the acne scores and serum IGF‐1 levels were found to be significantly higher in patients under the age of 21 than patients over the age of 21. There was a statistically significant difference in acne score between the two groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the serum IGF‐1, insulin, and glucose levels of the acne group and the control group.Conclusion: In this study, it has been revealed that IGF‐1 is effective at the pathogenesis of acne in adolescence.

Background Toenail dystrophies are among the most common diseases in adulthood. Onychomycosis is one of the most frequently observed infectious diseases of the nail. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of fungal agents in the etiology of nail dystrophies such as discoloration, thickening, subungual hyperkeratosis, and onycholysis in toenails and to emphasize the importance of diagnosis by other laboratory confirmation tests since various nail diseases may mimic onychomycosis. Subjects and Methods Nail samples taken from 53 patients who were admitted to the dermatology clinic with the complaint of toenail disorders were examined by using potassium hydroxide mount, fungal culture, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry methods. Each nail was photographed, and descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results Of 53 patients included in the study, 39 were female (73.6%) and 14 were male (26.4%). The ages of the patients ranged from 14 to 70 years, and the mean age was 37.8 years. No fungi could be isolated in 17 (32%) patients with nail dystrophy, while fungal pathogens were observed in 36 (68%) patients on potassium hydroxide mount, culture, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry examinations. Among nondermatophyte molds, Aspergillus species (52.7%) were identified as the most common fungal pathogen causing onychomycosis. Conclusion Although fungal pathogenic agents are mostly detected among the diseases causing color changes and deformities in the nails, it should be kept in mind that nail findings of systemic or other skin diseases may mimic onychomycosis and the diagnosis should be confirmed by laboratory tests in addition to clinical manifestations for accurate treatment. Study Limitations Other systemic diseases causing nail dystrophy were not questioned in the study.

Background: Rosacea is a common chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the facial skin. Objectives: Dermoscopy is a noninvasive procedure that is commonly used for the diagnosis of dermatological diseases. This article aims to determine the clinical and dermoscopic manifestations of the rosacea patients and the presence of the accompanying Demodex. Materials and Methods: The study evaluated 23 patients who were diagnosed with rosacea through clinical and dermoscopic findings. The patients were clinically and dermoscopically photographed and were classified according to the rosacea classification. The presence of Demodex was demonstrated both dermoscopically and through biopsy. Results: There were a total of 23 participants (17 females and 6 males). The ages of the participants ranged between 28 and 75, with an average of 49. Among the 23 participants, 14 were erythematotelangiectatic, 7 were papulopustular, and 2 were rhinophyma. A total of 12 participants (4 males and 8 females) had ocular involvement. The most common dermoscopic finding was a linear vascular structure. A total of 15 patients (11 females and 4 males) had the demodicosis finding. Conclusion: The diagnosis of rosacea and demodicosis through dermoscopic findings is as reliable as a biopsy and it has the advantage of being noninvasive.