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Severe hyperpigmentation and scarring following glycolic acid peel treatment in combination with low-dose isotretinoin

Abstract

Background

The application of systemic isotretinoin in the treatment of cutaneous photoaging has been well investigated. In addition, well-recognized topical antiaging therapies such as superficial chemical peeling (CP) with α-hydroxy acids have been shown to be more helpful when combined with low-dose oral isotretinoin. Even though the combination of systemic isotretinoin and medium to deep CP has been associated with serious side effects such as delayed wound healing and enlarged incidence of scarring, to date superficial CP and concomitant systemic isotretinoin have been considered safe.

Case presentation

In this report, we present the case of a patient receiving low-dose oral isotretinoin therapy who developed severe painful erythema and erosions that led to permanent hyperpigmentation and scarring of her face and neck after undergoing superficial CP with glycolic acid.

Conclusions

There is a potential risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring with the use of a combination of low-dose oral isotretinoin and glycolic acid peeling.

Background

The benefit of systemic isotretinoin in the treatment of cutaneous photoaging has received particular attention in the past decade or so [1]-[3]. Furthermore, well-established topical antiaging therapies, such as superficial chemical peeling (CP) with α-hydroxy acid, have been shown to be more beneficial when combined with low-dose oral isotretinoin [4]. Although the combination of systemic isotretinoin and medium to deep CP has been associated with severe adverse effects, including delayed wound healing and increased incidence of scarring, to date superficial CP and concomitant systemic isotretinoin have been considered safe [4]-[8]. In this report, we present the case of a patient receiving low-dose oral isotretinoin therapy who developed severe, painful erythema and erosions that led to permanent hyperpigmentation and scarring of her face and neck following superficial CP with glycolic acid.

Case presentation

A 34-year-old woman presented to our department with severe, painful erythema and hyperpigmentation of her face and neck (Figure 1). Her initial physical examination revealed isolated erosions of her forehead (Figure 1B). She reported that a facial 70% glycolic acid peel had been performed 3 days prior to her examination at our clinic. According to her medical history, she had received repetitive treatments with 70% glycolic acid without any discomfort or complications for the past several months. Prepeel preparations had been performed with 8% glycolic acid. During the postpeel period, bland emollients as well as sunscreens had been applied. At the initial referral, persistent questioning revealed a history of treatment with 10 mg of isotretinoin three times per week because of a coarse-pored skin for the preceding 10 weeks. Systemic isotretinoin was discontinued 3 weeks prior to her last session of CP. It must be noted that the patient had initiated the isotretinoin treatment on her own behalf without consulting her dermatologist. She had not used oral contraception, estrogens or other photosensitizing agents. The patient stated that she had maintained strict avoidance of ultraviolet light exposure prior to her CP procedure as well as in the postpeel period.

After her initial examination, a topical treatment with fusidic acid in combination with methylprednisolone aceponate lotion twice per day was initiated. Subsequently, significant reduction in exudation and improvement of erythema were observed (Figures 2A and 2C). However, late-onset adverse effects, including postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and scarring, persisted even 2 months after chemical peel treatment (Figure 2B).

Discussion

Topical retinoids are largely used in the treatment, as well as the prevention, of cutaneous photoaging, and their efficacy is well established [1],[9]-[12]. Moreover, the positive effect of systemic isotretinoin in the treatment of cutaneous photoaging has been reported in recent years. In fact, it has been shown that oral isotretinoin improves the appearance of the skin by reducing wrinkle depth as well as pigmented lesions [2]-[4]. Furthermore, low-dose therapy with isotretinoin (10 to 20 mg three times per week for 3 months) has been shown to induce a significant increase of collagen fibers and reduction of deposited elastic material in the dermis [3].

Glycolic acid peel is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure commonly used for the treatment of acne, photoaging and pigmentary disorders such as melasma. Careful patient selection, priming of the skin, standardization of peels, pre- and postpeel care and a maintenance program are essential to achieving desirable cosmetic results. CP with glycolic acid has been associated with only minor, transient side effects such as moderate pain, burning sensation or erythema [13]-[19]. Furthermore, a recent study showed significant improvement in wrinkles, skin elasticity and skin quality after glycolic or resorcinol CP and concomitant low-dose oral isotretinoin (10 to 20 mg per day, three times per week), as compared to facial rejuvenation with CP alone [4].

The exact mechanism of action of isotretinoin in the prevention or treatment of photoaged skin is not completely understood. It is believed that isotretinoin improves the appearance of photoaged skin through collagen synthesis, dermal vascularization increase, cell differentiation and extracellular matrix stabilization [1],[2],[20].

Notably, isotretinoin has been associated with increased incidence of delayed wound healing and scarring when combined with medium and deep chemical peels or dermabrasion, whereas the combination of superficial chemical peels and isotretinoin therapy has been reported to be safe, causing negligible or no adverse effects such as erythema during the few first days or transient, mild hyperpigmentation [6],[8],[18],[21],[22]. The exact mechanism of atypical reepithelization and scarring due to isotretinoin remains unclear. Some authors have discussed that oral retinoids may cause disruption of the stratum corneum and thereby enhance the depth of penetration of the glycolic acid peel [7]. Moreover, according to the literature, exaggerated scarring under therapy with isotretinoin might be related to stimulation of angiogenesis or production of collagenase inhibitors resulting in collagen accumulation [23].

In this report, we describe the case of a patient who developed a severe adverse reaction while receiving low-dose oral isotretinoin after undergoing superficial glycolic acid peel. Even though glycolic acid in combination with low-dose isotretinoin has been reported to be well tolerated in the vast majority of cases, frequent postoperative visits are necessary to detect the early onset of complications.

Conclusions

There is a potential risk of hyperpigmentation and scarring with a combination of low-dose oral isotretinoin and glycolic acid peeling.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.

Authors' contributions

All authors drafted and helped to write the manuscript. PAG, GK and ED treated the patient and had the initial idea of writing the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Kim and Thomas Speer for supporting our research.

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Correspondence to Peter Arne Gerber.

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Gerber, P.A., Kukova, G., Bölke, E. et al. Severe hyperpigmentation and scarring following glycolic acid peel treatment in combination with low-dose isotretinoin. Eur J Med Res 19, 60 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-014-0060-x

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Keywords

  • Hyperpigmentation
  • Low-dose isotretinoin
  • Peel treatment
  • Scarring
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