BackgroundWhile phototherapy is a well-established treatment for many dermatoses, data from the literature regarding its use in elderly patients are quite limited.ObjectiveIn this study, we aimed to determine the phototherapy indications in geriatric patients and to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of phototherapy in this group.MethodsThis study included 95 patients of 65 years of age and older who were treated in our phototherapy unit between 2006 and 2015. The data for this study were collected retrospectively from patient follow-up forms in the phototherapy unit.ResultsPhototherapy was administered to 28 (29.5%) patients for mycosis fungoides, 25 (26.3%) patients foplaque type psoriasis, 12 (12.6%) patients for palmoplantar psoriasis, 12 (12.6%) patients for generalized pruritus, and 18 (19%) for other dermatoses. Of the patients, 64.2% had received a narrowband UVB (NB-UVB), 21.1% oral psoralen UVA (PUVA), and 14.7% local PUVA treatment. A complete response was achieved in 76.9-85.7% of the mycosis fungoides and in 73.71-100% of the psoriasis vulgaris patients treated with NB-UVB and PUVA, respectively. All the patients with generalized pruritus were treated with NB-UVB, and 80% of these patients achieved significant improvement. The erythema rate was found to be 0.43% per session for NB-UVB treatment and 0.46% per session for PUVA treatment as a side effect.Study limitationsThe limitations of our study are that it was retrospective and the remission durations of the patients are not known.ConclusionThis study showed that phototherapy is effective and reliable in the elderly population with proper dose increases and close follow-up.

We observed that the quality of life in patients with AV was affected, and this effect was more significant in female patients, patients with severe acne and longer acne duration. We believe that the psychiatric/psychological effects should be followed up closely in this group of patients.

In clinical practice, tularaemia may present with various cutaneous manifestations, and dermatologists who work in endemic regions must be aware of the possibility of this disease.

IntroductionMorphea, also referred to as localized scleroderma, is a rare fibrosing skin disorder of undetermined cause.AimWe report our single-center experience with morphea.Material and methodsThe study included 53 patients who were diagnosed with morphea by histopathology in our department between 2010 and 2015. Study data were collected retrospectively from the records of morphea patients.ResultsThe study included 53 patients (38 women, 15 men), and median age at onset was 39.0 (range: 8–85) years. Thirty (56.6%) patients had circumscribed morphea, 15 (28.3%) had generalized morphea, and 7 (13.2%) had linear morphea. One patient had mixed variant morphea (generalized, pansclerotic and linear morphea). ANA positivity was detected in 12 (22.6%) patients, but analysis for an association between the presence of ANA and morphea types, patients’ characteristics did not reveal any significant associations. We did not observe any extracutaneous manifestations in patients during follow-up period. There were 2 of 53 patients who had concomitant autoimmune disorder including vitiligo and spondyloarthritis. Thirty (56.6%) patients received only topical treatment. The patients with clinical improvement who were treated with systemic therapy received methotrexate (26.4%), colchicine (9.4%), mycophenolate mofetil (5.7%) and prednisolone (1.9%).ConclusionsOur results related to the demographic data of the patients and morphea types were consistent with the literature. On the other hand we observed that methotrexate was mostly used as an effective treatment option for generalized morphea.

Studies conducted on isotretinoin have shown that it may indirectly lead to atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of systemic isotretinoin on subclinical atherosclerosis. The present study included 63 patients with acne vulgaris who had used isotretinoin for 6 months. Glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance levels; body mass index; waist circumference; blood pressure; lipid profile; and lectin‐like oxidized low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐1 (LOX‐1), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (Ox‐LDL) levels were compared in the patients at the initiation and discontinuation of the treatment. At the discontinuation of the treatment, LOX‐1 and Ox‐LDL levels showed a significant increase (P < .001 and P = .040, respectively). Differences in waist circumference were positively correlated with an increase in LOX‐1 levels (r = .274; P = .030). Isotretinoin causes an increase in the levels of subclinical atherosclerosis markers. Although the present study sample size was small, we believe that caution should be exercised considering the risk of atherosclerosis during isotretinoin use in men with high waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors; further studies are warranted in this regard.