The Journal of dermatological treatment
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While the use of isotretinoin has revolutionized the treatment of acne vulgaris, isotretinoin is increasingly recognized as a useful therapeutic option for many other cutaneous conditions. We review the evidence underlying the use of isotretinoin for a variety of dermatological indications including hidradenitis suppurativa, sebaceous gland pathology, rosacea, scarring alopecia, cosmetic dermatology, and non-melanoma skin cancer prophylaxis amongst other uses, and thus consider alternative uses within dermatology practice. The studies found benefit of isotretinoin, however most trials lacked statistical power and in many cases the use was limited to case series. Isotretinoin, if used within the correct cohort with appropriate pretreatment counseling regarding side-effects, is a well-tolerated medication with potential as either an adjunctive treatment or a second-line agent in those recalcitrant cases unresponsive to first-line therapy.
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Digital health services are rapidly gaining acceptance in healthcare systems. Dermatology as an image-centric specialty is particularly well suited for telemedical services. However, dermatology patients' demands of electronic services remain largely unexplored. ⋯ Taken together, interest in electronic health services is high in dermatology patients. Our data suggest that readily understandable electronic services such as online-arranged appointments and electronic prescriptions are of higher interest to patients than the current type of online consultations. Therefore, the full potential of teledermatology still remains to be tapped by newer, more attractive forms of services closely adapted to patients' demands.