BACKGROUND Postsurgical skin healing can result in different scars types, ranging from a fine line to pathologic scars, in relation to patients' intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Although the role of nutrition in influencing skin healing is known, no previous studies investigated if the vegan diet may affect postsurgical wounds. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to compare surgical scars between omnivore and vegan patients. METHODS AND MATERIALS This is a prospective observational study. Twenty-one omnivore and 21 vegan patients who underwent surgical excision of a nonmelanoma skin cancer were enrolled. Postsurgical complications and scar quality were evaluated using the modified Scar Cosmesis Assessment and Rating (SCAR) scale. RESULTS Vegans showed a significantly lower mean serum iron level (p < .001) and vitamin B12 (p < .001). Wound diastasis was more frequent in vegans (p = .008). After 6 months, vegan patients had a higher modified SCAR score than omnivores (p < .001), showing the worst scar spread (p < .001), more frequent atrophic scars (p < .001), and worse overall impression (p < .001). CONCLUSION This study suggests that a vegan diet may negatively influence the outcome of surgical scars.

Background The aging of facial structures depends on genetic, anatomic, chronologic, and environmental factors that affect the skin and underlying tissues. Microfocused ultrasound with visualization (MFU‐V) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment for skin laxity. As the nutritional status may contribute to skin aging, it would be interesting to evaluate whether different dietary patterns can also influence the response to MFU‐V treatment for skin laxity. Aims The aim of this study is to compare the outcome of MFU‐V therapy between omnivore and vegan patients. Methods Twenty‐seven vegan and twenty‐seven omnivorous women who underwent MFU‐V treatment for laxity of lower face and neck were enrolled. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the FLR (Facial Laxity Rating) scale after 3 and 6 months from treatment. Results At baseline, no significant differences were found in terms of FLR scale in both treated sites. After 3 months, reduction in FLR scale was significantly lower for vegans both on face (P = .04) and neck (P = .004). At 6 months, vegan patients had a worse clinical outcome on lower face (P = .001) and neck (P < .001). Conclusion The present study suggests that a vegan diet may negatively influence the outcome of a MFU‐V treatment.

Vitamin D plays an important role in every tissue due to its differentiating properties and the control of calcium homeostasis. The reversion of the epigenetic repression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) could lead to an increased sensitivity of the cells to the beneficial activity of the hormone and could be exploited in many vitamin D-resistant diseases. In this study we analyzed the effects of three natural epigenetic modulators: sulforaphane, curcumin, and the products of the fermentative activity of probiotics. Sulforaphane and curcumin are inhibitors of the DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) and of the histone deacetylases (HDAC); it has been demonstrated that sulforaphane and curcumin increase VDR expression in intestinal epithelial cells and in a human liver cancer cell line, respectively. The anti-inflammatory properties associated with the probiotic administration in vivo can be linked to the increased activity of intestinal VDR. Butyrate, an inhibitor of HDAC and a known modulator of VDR expression, is the candidate byproduct of fermentation by gut microbiome that could mediate the enhanced expression of VDR triggered by probiotics in vivo. Many other natural compounds wait to be investigated and recognized as epigenetic modulators of VDR, thus opening promising therapeutic avenues for many diseases by natural means.

Background and Objectives: Skin photoaging is related to extrinsic environmental exposures, mainly represented by ultraviolet radiation. One of the treatment options is laser resurfacing. As nutritional status is involved in cutaneous photodamage, we evaluated whether dietary patterns can also influence the response to facial resurfacing. Our prospective multicentric study involves three dermatologic centers specialized in laser therapy in northern Italy. The study aims to compare the outcome of a CO 2 ablative laser therapy between omnivore and vegan patients. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Fifty-three omnivore and fifty-three vegan women undergoing ultrapulsed CO 2 resurfacing for photodamaged facial skin were enrolled in this study. Clinical improvement was evaluated 3 and 6 months after the treatment using the modified Dover score. Results: After laser treatment, vegans showed slower complete re-epithelialization (P < 0.001*) and disappearance of the erythema (P < 0.001*). After 3 and 6 months, vegans showed worse outcomes in terms of fine lines (P < 0.001* and P < 0.001*, respectively) and tactile roughness (P = 0.003* and P = 0.002*, respectively) compared with omnivores, while they did not differ in mottled pigmentation. Conclusions: The present study suggests that diet influences the clinical outcome of fractioned CO 2 laser treatment. Lasers Surg. Med.