A comparative study of the effectiveness of tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne vulgaris among Filipino teenagers and adults in Metro Manila / The Health Sciences Journal

Introduction@#The researchers aimed to determine the efficacy of tea tree oil in comparison to benzoyl peroxide in treating mild acne. This study also aimed to identify the side effects of both treatment modalities.@*Methods@#Using a randomized single blinded controlled clinical trial, teenagers and young adults with mild acne vulgaris were allocated to receive tea tree oil gel or benzoyl peroxide for four weeks. The effectiveness of the agents was measured using the Investigator's Global Assessment Scale. Posttreatment scores were compared with the baseline within groups. The difference was compared between the two study arms. Adverse reactions to the two agents were also noted.@*Results @#Both tea tree oil and benzoyl peroxide groups showed a significant decrease in the posttreatment lesion counts compared to the baseline, however when the mean differences were compared between groups, the difference was not significant.@*Conclusion@#Tea tree oil is comparable to benzoyl peroxide in treating mild acne vulgaris among teenagers and young adults.

Enfermedad de Morbihan: exitoso tratamiento con isotretinoína oral / Morbihan disease: successful treatment with oral isotretinoin

Se presenta a un paciente de 18 años de edad, con antecedentes de hipotiroidismo y acné leve. Consulta por edema facial persistente, a predominio de la mitad superior del rostro, de 7 meses de evolución. El mismo es indoloro, con un leve eritema, principalmente en párpados, y con temperatura local conservada. Se le solicitan estudios complementarios y se lo trata con antihistamínicos sin mejoría. Se toma biopsia de piel y con el diagnóstico de enfermedad de Morbihan se inicia tratamiento con isotretinoína a dosis de 20 mg/día durante seis meses, con respuesta muy favorable (AU)

An 18-year-old male patient with hypothyroidism and mild acne is reported. He consults for a 7-month history of persistent facial edema, predominantly on the upper half of the face. Edema is painless, with eyelids mild erythema and local temperature preserved. Additional tests are requested and treatment with antihistamines is unsuccessful. Skin biopsy is undertaken with Morbihan disease diagnosis. Patient is treated with oral isotretinoin in a daily dose of 20 mg/day for six months, with significant clinical improvement (AU)