Evaluation of Depression, Self-esteem, Anxiety, and Dermatological Quality of Life Index in Adolescent Acne Patients: A Case-Control Study.

Objectives: Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition that affects adolescents and can have a significant impact on their mental health. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the depression and anxiety symptoms, self-esteem and dermatological quality of life indexes of adolescent patients with acne vulgaris. Methods: A total of 160 patients aged between 10 and 19 years with acne vulgaris and 100 healthy controls were included in the study. All participants completed the Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS), Beck Adolescent Anxiety Scale (BAAS), and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Survey Scale (CSES), alone and independently. The dermatologists evaluated the acne disease severity of the study group using the Global Acne Grading System, while the Children's Dermatological Quality of Life Index (CDLQI) was evaluated in the same group. Age, gender, and scale results of all participants were recorded on case report forms for further analysis. Results: The study group had significantly higher RADS (27.5% vs 12.5%, p=0.003) and BAAS scores (80% vs 64%, p=0.001) than the control group. The percentage of patients with CSES scores below 20 in the study group was significantly higher than the control group (p=0.001). Higher RADS and BAAS scores were associated with higher CDLQI scores (p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively), while higher CSES scores were associated with lower CDLQI scores (p=0.001). Conclusion: The study shows that acne vulgaris has a significant impact on the depression, anxiety, and self-esteem levels of adolescent patients. Dermatologists should pay attention to the psychological well-being of patients and provide psychiatric evaluation if necessary.

Xerosis cutis and associated co-factors in women with prurigo nodularis

Abstract: Background: Current data regarding the associated factors of prurigo nodularis are still uncertain, except for atopic predisposition. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the frequencies of xerosis and other accompanying diseases of female patients with prurigo nodularis; (2) compare the demographic, clinical and accompanying disease characteristics by grouping these patients according to whether they have associated xerosis (who were subsequently subgrouped as atopic or non-atopic) or not. Methods: In this retrospective descriptive study, 80 females with PN were categorized according to the accompanying diseases (dermatological, systemic, neurological, psychogenic, mixed, or undetermined origin). Results: A total of 45 associated co-factors including dermatological in 63 (78.8%), systemic in 57 (71.3%), psychological in 33 (41.3%) and neurological co-factors in 14 (17.5%) of all patients with prurigo nodularis were detected. Xerosis was observed in 48 (60%) patients (non-atopic co-factors in 66.7% of them). The ratio of patients with mixed co-factors, dermatological+systemic co-factors and dermatological+systemic+psychological co-factors were found to be significantly higher in patients with xerosis compared to those without xerosis. Study limitations: Our study has certain limitations such as the absence of an age-matched control group, absence of follow-up data and the fact that the diagnosis of xerosis has not been based on objective methods. Conclusions: Xerosis has been identified in more than half of the patients with PN and it has been determined that in most patients xerosis is associated especially with diabetes mellitus and other conditions related to prurigo nodularis.

Xerosis cutis and associated co-factors in women with prurigo nodularis.

BACKGROUND: Current data regarding the associated factors of prurigo nodularis are still uncertain, except for atopic predisposition. OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to (1) determine the frequencies of xerosis and other accompanying diseases of female patients with prurigo nodularis; (2) compare the demographic, clinical and accompanying disease characteristics by grouping these patients according to whether they have associated xerosis (who were subsequently subgrouped as atopic or non-atopic) or not. METHODS: In this retrospective descriptive study, 80 females with PN were categorized according to the accompanying diseases (dermatological, systemic, neurological, psychogenic, mixed, or undetermined origin). RESULTS: A total of 45 associated co-factors including dermatological in 63 (78.8%), systemic in 57 (71.3%), psychological in 33 (41.3%) and neurological co-factors in 14 (17.5%) of all patients with prurigo nodularis were detected. Xerosis was observed in 48 (60%) patients (non-atopic co-factors in 66.7% of them). The ratio of patients with mixed co-factors, dermatological+systemic co-factors and dermatological+systemic+psychological co-factors were found to be significantly higher in patients with xerosis compared to those without xerosis. STUDY LIMITATIONS: Our study has certain limitations such as the absence of an age-matched control group, absence of follow-up data and the fact that the diagnosis of xerosis has not been based on objective methods. CONCLUSIONS: Xerosis has been identified in more than half of the patients with PN and it has been determined that in most patients xerosis is associated especially with diabetes mellitus and other conditions related to prurigo nodularis.

Examination of the Microbial Spectrum in the Etiology of Erythema Nodosum: A Retrospective Descriptive Study.

Even though infections are the most common cause of erythema nodosum (EN), only certain microorganisms take the great interest such as streptococci in knowledge. Our aim was to examine the frequency and type of infections in EN, to determine the characteristics of patients with an infectious etiology, and to discuss the role of these microbes in EN pathology in the context of their interactions with humans. Charts of 81 patients with EN who were seen between 2003 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Identified etiological factors were classified into three groups: infectious, noninfectious, and idiopathic. While there were no significant demographic and clinical differences between the infectious and idiopathic groups, systemic symptoms (p = 0.034) and the number of EN lesions (p = 0.016) were significantly lower; the mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was significantly higher (p = 0.049), but the mean aspartate aminotransferase value was significantly lower in the infectious group compared to the noninfectious group (p = 0.019). Besides streptococci, many other microbes, including the ones living on and inside us, were identified in the etiology of EN. There is a need for large-scale prospective studies involving control groups for a better understanding of the microbial immunopathology of EN.