Assessment of Olfactory Functions in Patients with Acne vulgaris Under Systemic Treatment: A Prospective Study

Aim: The loss of smell is a common disease and can affect a patient’s quality of life. Olfactory disturbance leads to problems such as safety and eating. Acne vulgaris is a prevalent disease in the daily clinical practice of a dermatologist. Doxycycline and isotretinoin are the most preferred systemic drugs for severe acne. This study aimed to investigate the possible effects on olfactory function in patients with acne vulgaris receiving isotretinoin and doxycycline therapy by using the Brief Smell Identification Test. Material and Method: A total of 60 patients with acne vulgaris were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups, each consisting of 30 patients. One group received oral doxycycline, while the other received oral isotretinoin. The olfactory function of each patient in both groups was assessed at the beginning and third month of treatment by using the Brief Smell Identification Test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the total scores of the Brief Smell Identification Test at 0. and 3. months in both the isotretinoin group and the doxycycline group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that both drugs are safe and have no undesirable effect on olfactory function. However, the certain effects of both drugs on olfactory functions still remain unknown. New studies are needed to shed light on this issue.