Clinical Investigation and Distribution of Pityrosporum in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis of the Scalp / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common chronic inflammatory disease. Previous studies suggested that, Pityrosporum, lipophilic fungi, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease clinically and mycologically for better understanding of the pathogenesis. METHODS: Two hundred and one new patient.s with seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp and 67 norrnal subjects were obs!,rved clinically by the dermatologist and studied stat,istically by questionnaires. A mycologic study of Pityrosporum was also performed by direct smear. RESULTS: Among a total of 201 patients wit,h seborrheic dermatitis, 72.6% had pityriasis sicca, 10.5% had pityr iasis steartoides and 16.9% had inflammatory seborrheic dermatitis. On clinical grading by the Kligman.. scale, grade III(slightly scaling) was the most common in the patients and 52.6% of the norma. subjects were below grade II (no scaling). Spores of Pityrosporum were observed in 76.7% of the patients and 91.5% of the normal subjects. The incidence of Pityrosporum was lower particularly in t,he patients with inflammatory seborrheic dermatitis t,han in other pa~tients groups. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, it, is difficult to conclude that Pityrosporum is a main causative ager t of seborrheic dermatitis. In addition, it is thought t.hat further studies of the role of Pityrosporum in seborrheic dermatitis are needed.

Clinical Investigation and Distribution of Pityrosporum in Patients with Seborrheic Dermatitis of the Scalp / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Seborrheic dermatitis is a very common chronic inflammatory disease. Previous studies suggested that, Pityrosporum, lipophilic fungi, may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the disease clinically and mycologically for better understanding of the pathogenesis. METHODS: Two hundred and one new patient.s with seborrheic dermatitis of the scalp and 67 norrnal subjects were obs!,rved clinically by the dermatologist and studied stat,istically by questionnaires. A mycologic study of Pityrosporum was also performed by direct smear. RESULTS: Among a total of 201 patients wit,h seborrheic dermatitis, 72.6% had pityriasis sicca, 10.5% had pityr iasis steartoides and 16.9% had inflammatory seborrheic dermatitis. On clinical grading by the Kligman.. scale, grade III(slightly scaling) was the most common in the patients and 52.6% of the norma. subjects were below grade II (no scaling). Spores of Pityrosporum were observed in 76.7% of the patients and 91.5% of the normal subjects. The incidence of Pityrosporum was lower particularly in t,he patients with inflammatory seborrheic dermatitis t,han in other pa~tients groups. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, it, is difficult to conclude that Pityrosporum is a main causative ager t of seborrheic dermatitis. In addition, it is thought t.hat further studies of the role of Pityrosporum in seborrheic dermatitis are needed.

Effects of Nail Lacquer on Transonychial Water Loss / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Nail lacquer strengthens and protects the nail plate by preventing excess loss of moisture and providing a hard surface. On the other hand, it may produce allergic contact and irritant dermatitis, paronychial and nail bed inflammation and infection, dystrophic nails and onycholysis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of study was to investigate the effect of the nail lacquer on the barrier function of the nail. METHODS: The study populatian consisted of 25 healthy young subjects who had not applied the nail lacquer to the nail for the last 3 months. Nail lacquer was applied to the left thumb and middle fingernail for 6 weeks and then removed by acetone. Transonychial water loss(TOWL) of the treated left fingernails and the untreated corresponding right fingernails was measured with an Evaporimeter. Lipids of the nails were extracted from distal nail cuttings and analysed by thin layer chromatography. RESULTS: 1. Before application of the nail lacquer, there was no difference in TOWL between the left and right fingernails while the TOWL of the thumb nail was higher than that of the middle fingernail with a statistical significance(p<0.05). 2. The TOWL of the left fingernails, measured 1 day, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after application of the nail lacquer, was lower than that of the untreated right fingernails with a statistical significance( p< 0.05). 3. The TOWL of the left fingernails, measured 1, 3 and 7 days after removal of the nail lacquer by acetone, was not different statistically from that of the untreated right fingernails. 4. Lipid analysis demonstratcd that the cholesterol content was higher in the left fingernail which had been covered with nail lacquer than in the untreated right fingernail. 5. There was no clinical adverse effect observed during application of the nail lacquer or after removal of it. CONCLUSION: According to the results of the study, nail lacquer has some occlusive effects on transonychial water evaporatior . Because increased cholesterol content may be due to perturbations of barrier function , further studies of the effect of the nail lacquer on the barrier function of the nail will be needed.

Cutaneous Horn Originated from Condyloma Acuminata / 대한피부과학회지

We report a case of cutaneous horn originated frorn condyloma acuminata in a 25 year-old man. The patient showed yellowish brown hyperkeratotic masses on the prepuce, coronal sulcus and multiple asymptomatic pinkish cauliflower-like projections in both inguinal folds and perianal area. Skin biopsies were taken from the base of the penile lesions andinguinal, perianal area exhibited marked hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis in addition to the typical findings of condylorna acuminaturn. In situ hybridization technique for Human papilloma virus(HPV) showed positive reaction to HPV 11. All lesions were removed by surgical excision, electrocauterization and podophyllin application, but condyloma acuminatum recurred several times thereafter.

Subepidermal Calcified Nodule

Subepidermal calcified nodule(SCN) is a form of calcinosis cutis which is usually present as a single small, raised, hard nodule with verrucous surface. A 13-year-old girl presented with a 10-month history of a ricegrain-sized, hard, yellowish white papule on both upper eyelids. The lesions were asymptomatic and had increased slowly in size. An excisional biopsy specimen of the left upper eyelid showed acanthosis and narrow pointed rete ridges of the epidermis, and closely aggregated deposition of basophilic material in the uppermost dermis. The material in the dermis did not stain with von Kossa. It was confirmed as calcium deposition by staining with alizarin red S which is far more specific for calcium than the von Kossa stain.