Omega-3 fatty acids mitigate isotretinoin-induced cheilitis

Abstract

While isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne vulgaris, isotretinoin-induced cheilitis is one of the most troubling side-effects of the treatment. In an excellent review, which briefly covers the treatments for isotretinoin-induced cheilitis, Narayanan and Rogge overlooked the utility of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs). O3FAs, a cluster of long-chain and very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids that the human body cannot synthesize intrinsically, have demonstrated efficacy in improving specific conditions characterized by inflammation, dryness and moisture loss.