Importance

Surgeons have varying opinions on the ideal cutaneous suture spacing for optimal cosmetic outcomes. To date, no studies concerning the effect of suture spacing on cosmetic outcomes exist in the literature.

Objective

To compare outcomes and wound cosmesis achieved with running cutaneous sutures spaced 2 vs 5 mm apart.

Design, setting, and participants

This randomized clinical trial was conducted at the University of California, Davis dermatology clinic from November 28, 2017, to June 15, 2018. Fifty-six patients 18 years or older with surgical fusiform wounds (from Mohs procedure or surgical excision) on the head or neck with assumed closure lengths of at least 3 cm were screened. Six patients were excluded, 50 patients were enrolled, and 48 patients were followed up.

Interventions

Fifty surgical fusiform wounds were randomized to running cuticular closure with 2-mm spacing on half and 5-mm spacing on half.

Main outcomes and measures

At 3 months, patients and 2 masked observers evaluated each scar using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS).

Results

A total of 50 patients (mean [SD] age, 71.1 [11.4] years; 43 [86%] male; 50 [100%] white) were enrolled in the study. The mean (SD) sum of the POSAS observer component scores was 10.7 (4.3) for the 2-mm interval side and 10.8 (3.5) for the 5-mm side at 3 months (P = .77). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean (SD) sum of the patient component for the POSAS score between the 2-mm interval side (10.2 [4.7]) and the 5-mm interval side (11.5 [6.4]) at 3 months (P = .24). No statistically significant difference was observed in mean (SD) scar width between the 2-mm side (0.9 [0.6] mm) and the 5-mm side (0.8 [0.4] mm; P = .15).

Conclusions and relevance

No statistically significant difference in wound cosmesis or total complications were noted between running cuticular sutures spaced 2 vs 5 mm apart. Both suturing techniques resulted in similar cosmetic outcomes and complication rates. Surgeons may want to consider whether the extra time involved in placing very closely spaced cuticular sutures is worthwhile.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03330041.

Probiotic supplementation has been shown to modulate the gut-skin axis. The goal of this study was to investigate whether oral spore-based probiotic ingestion modulates the gut microbiome, plasma short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and skin biophysical properties. This was a single-blinded, 8-week study (NCT03605108) in which 25 participants, 7 with noncystic acne, were assigned to take placebo capsules for the first 4 weeks, followed by 4 weeks of probiotic supplementation. Blood and stool collection, facial photography, sebum production, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), skin hydration measurements, and acne assessments were performed at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks. Probiotic supplementation resulted in a decreasing trend for the facial sebum excretion rate and increased TEWL overall. Subanalysis of the participants with acne showed improvement in total, noninflammatory, and inflammatory lesion counts, along with improvements in markers of gut permeability. The gut microbiome of the nonacne population had an increase in the relative abundance of Akkermansia, while the subpopulation of those with acne had an increase in the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcus gnavus. Probiotic supplementation augmented the circulating acetate/propionate ratio. There is preliminary evidence for the use of spore-based probiotic supplementation to shift the gut microbiome and augment short-chain fatty acids in those with and without acne. Further spore-based supplementation studies in those with noncystic acne are warranted.