Evaluation of the changes in sebum, moisturization and elasticity in acne vulgaris patients receiving systemic isotretinoin treatment

Abstract

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine the change in facial skin sebum, hydration and elasticity of acne vulgaris patients after being treated with systemic isotretinoin.

Method

Patients who were diagnosed with acne vulgaris and who received systemic isotretinoin treatment for 6 months in Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Department of Dermatology between June 2012 and May 2017 were included in this study. The sebum, hydration and elasticity of the skin were measured non-invasively with a device called “Soft Plus Skin Analyses System” before treatment and 6 months after treatment. The relationship between the pre-treatment and post-treatment values were evaluated statistically. 35 adult patients (20 female, 15 male) who were diagnosed with acne vulgaris and who received systemic isotretinoin treatment for 6 months.

Results

The pre-treatment sebum value for both sexes ranged between 5 and 100 and the mean value was calculated as 75.8 $\pm$ 28.0. The post-treatment sebum values ranged between 1 and 98 and the mean value was calculated as 48.4 $\pm$ 31.8. The difference between the pre-treatment and post-treatment values was statistically significant, p < 0.001. The decline in sebum value after treatment was 36%. The pre-treatment hydration values ranged between 9 and 77.5 and the mean was 34.6 $\pm$ 14.6. The post treatment hydration values ranged between 4.8 and 100 and the mean was calculated as 62.4 $\pm$ 28.6. The difference between the pre-treatment and post-treatment hydration values were statistically significant, p < 0.001. The post-treatment increase in hydration was 79%. The pre-treatment skin elasticity ranged between 28 and 50; the mean was 40.4 $\pm$ 5.5. The post-treatment elasticity values ranged between 20 and 50; and the mean was 37.5 $\pm$ 8.2. However, the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.1).

Conclusion

With this study, it was concluded that, systemic isotretion leads to a 36% decline in skin sebum values and a 79% increase in the skin hydration. However, the change in skin elasticity was not statistically significant. Furthermore, the changes in sebum and skin hydration did not lead to a change in skin elasticity.

Keywords:

• Acne
• elasticity
• hydration
• isotretinoin
• sebum

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).