Skin conditions in epileptics.

The prevalence of skin and mucous membrane conditions occurring in 173 epileptics between the ages of 6 and 19 years was compared with that of an age-matched group of 211 non-epileptics. The most frequently used anticonvulants, singly or in combination, were carbamazepine in 54.9%, phenytoin in 47.8%, barbiturates in 36.6% and ethosuximide in 11.2% of epileptics. The most frequent combination was phenytoin and carbamazepine in 14% of the males and 18.4% of the females. An increased prevalence of acne was found in epileptic females; 80.3% compared to 30.2% in non-epileptic females. Hirsutism was found in 43.9% of the female epileptics compared to 7.5% of the non-epileptic females. Of interest was the finding of punctate and linear scars on the dorsum of the hands of 27.7% epileptics compared to 3.8% non-epileptics. Both ephilides and naevocellular naevi occurred in 12.7% of the epileptics compared to 29.4% and 52.1% respectively of the non-epileptics. Leukonychia was also found more frequently in epileptics than in non-epileptics; 52% and 28.9% respectively.