No abstract

Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory disorder of the skin. Oral antibiotics are known to be effective in its treatment. A randomized, investigator-blinded study was performed to compare the efficacy of azithromycin with doxycycline. Fifty-one patients were randomized to receive either azithromycin 500 mg/day on 3 consecutive days per week in the first, on 2 consecutive days per week in the second, and on 1 day per week in the third month. The other group was given doxycycline twice a day for the first month and once a day for the second and third months. Clinical assessment was made at baseline, at the end of first, second, third, and post-treatment first and second months. Side effects were recorded. Statistically significant improvement for the facial lesions were obtained with both drugs. Neither drug was shown to be more effective than the other. The beneficial effect continued until 2 months after treatment. In the azithromycin group three patients had diarrohea, while photosensitivity was seen in two patients using doxycycline. This study indicates that azithromycin is at least as effective as doxycycline in the treatment of acne.

No abstract

Eight hundred IU/day vitamin E did not improve the side-effects of 1 mg/kg/day of isotretinoin in the treatment of acne vulgaris.

Congenital malalignment of the great toenails is a nail disorder caused by the malalignment of the nail matrix, which results in lateral growth of the nail plate. It may cause onychogryphosis and, in infants and children, ingrown nails. We report an occurrence of this deformity in dizygotic twins.