A Study on the Induction of Hardening Phenomenon by Repeated Application of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Chronic irritant contact dermatitis, the common occupational dermatitis of the skin, could be caused by repetitive exposure of the skin to irritants. Adaptation of the skin to repeated influence of exogenous irritants is called the hardening. The defining characteristic of hardening phenomenon has been progressively decreasing inflammatory response with prolonged exposure to an irritant. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the induction of hardening phenomenon by the repeated application of various concentrated sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) solutions. METHODS: Once a day a 0.1%, 0.5%, 2% solution of SLS and distilled water were applied to the volar forearm skin in 15 healthy volunteers for 10 minutes over 3 weeks. After 3 weeks interval of rest, patch tests with 1% solution of SLS were conducted on previously irritated sites for 24 hours. We measured transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and erythema index (E-index) before irritation, during 3 weeks of repeated application. 4 days after the patches test, we measured TEWL and E-index once a day. RESULTS: During 3 weeks of irritation with repeated application of 0.1%, 0.5%, 2% SLS solution, increase of TEWL was accelerated according to concentrations of SLS. In the study of 24-h patch test with 1% SLS solution on previously irritated sites after 3 weeks interval of rest, TEWL on distilled water application site was significantly higher than other sites irritated with SLS solution on D44 and D45. The TEWL values on the site irritated with higher concentration of SLS solution were lower than those with lower concentration of SLS solution. In contrast, there were no significant differences in E-index value during 3 weeks of irritation and after 24-h patch test with 1% SLS solution. CONCLUSION: Hardening could be induced by repeated irritation with SLS solution for 3 weeks. We suggest that hardening could be induced more efficiently with the higher concentration of SLS solution than the lower concentration.

A Case of Cutaneous Infection with Mycobacterium fortuitum / 대한피부과학회지

Mycobacterium (M.) fortuitum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium of Runyon's group IV. It is frequently found in water, soil and dust. Although being rarely pathogenic, M. fortuitum can cause soft tissue and skeletal infections through direct inoculation occurring in surgery or penetrating trauma. We report a case of cutaneous infection due to M. fortuitum which occurred in a 56-year-old female who had worked at a public bath. She had received a small injury to her right thigh, and thereafter an erythematous, indurated, tender plaque and small peripheral papules had developed at the injury site. The culture from the skin biopsy specimen on Ogawa medium yielded colonies after 7 days. The microorganism was subsequently identified as M. fortuitum by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The skin lesions were improved by antibiotic therapy with minocycline and ciprofloxacin.

A Case of Oral Allergy Syndrome to Perilla Seeds / 대한피부과학회지

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS), an immediate swelling and itching sensation of the mouth and throat after ingestion of a food allergen, is the most common food allergy-related manifestation. It can be present either in isolation or in association to systemic symptoms, and may even result in anaphylaxis. We report a case of a 5-year-old child who suffered from an oral allergy syndrome after eating perilla seeds. We obtained a positive open oral challenge with crude perilla seeds.

A Case of Recalcitrant Atopic Dermatitis Treated with Dapsone / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.