Clinicopathologic and Immunohistochemical Findings of Several Pigmented Skin Lesions after Copper Vapor Laser Treatment / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: There have been only a few morphological studies after laser treatment of pigmented skin lesions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to investigate the clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical changes following copper vapor laser treatment of superficial pigmented skin lesions. METHODS: Three patients with Becker's nevus, 1 patient with partial unilateral lentiginosis, and 1 patient with nevus spilus were irradiated with copper vapor laser. Forty-two biopsies were taken before, immediately after, and 3 months after laser treatment. Hematoxylin-eosin, Fontana-Masson, and S-100 protein staining were performed for the evaluation of the histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings of the specimens. RESULTS: Clinically, immediate greyish whitening, immediate erythema, and delayed edema were observed immediately after copper vapor treatment. Histopathologically, suprabasilar separation with elongated cells in the basal cell layer was observed immediately after laser treatment. A few vacuolated cells were found mainly in the basal cell layer. Fontana-Masson and S-100 protein staining positivity decreased a lot in the epidermis, but they hardly decreased in the dermis immediately after laser treatment. CONCLUSION: For the treatment of pigmented skin lesions, copper vapor laser was more effective in the epidermal pigmented structures than the dermal pigmented structures. Selective photothermolysis of melanosome was not so prominent after copper vapor laser treatment.

The Use of the Copper Vapor Laser for Vascular Lesion Treatment

BACKGROUND: While the effect of the flashlamp pumped dye laser in the treatment of telangiectasia and other vascular disease has been reported by many authors, there have been a few reports on the therapeutic effect of the copper vapor laser(CVL) on telangiectasia and other vascular lesions. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the clinical results in Korean patients who had cutaneous vascular disorders that were treated with the CVL at 578 nm. METHODS: A total of 23 patients with vascular lesions such as telangiectasia were involved. The effect of the laser treatment was evaluated 3 months after the last treatment. RESULTS: Of the 15 patients with telangiectasia, 12 patients showed good or excellent responses. 2 out of 3 patients with strawberry hemangioma showed good results. As for the other lesions, 2 out of the remaining patients 5 showed excellent results. CONCLUSION: The CVL has a beneficial effect and is a good alternative treatment modality for vascular lesions.

Comparative Measurement of Skin Surface Hydration Using a Hydrometer and Corneometer / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.

Comparative Measurement of Skin Surface Hydration Using a Hydrometer and Corneometer / 대한피부과학회지

BACKGROUND: Hydration, the water content of the stratum corneum, is an important factor in both the appearance and the barrier function of the skin. Many non-invasive methods have been developed in order to assesa the hydration state of the skin and the effect of various moisturizers. The hydrometer and carneometer are commercially available instruments which are widely used in dermatologic research. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the measuring usefulnes of both instruments on normal subjects with a wide range of hydration states of the hornylayer. METHODS: We measured the conductance with the hydrometer and the capacitance with the corneometer in various hydrating eonditions and compared both insruments. RESULTS: Conductance had a non linear correlation with capacita ice. Capacitance measured with the corneometer had a high sensitivity to moisture in a wide range of hydration levels. On the other hand, conductance guaged with the hydrometer showed a few sensitivity to moisture at a low level. When the hydretion level was measured after a moiturizer was added, 10 % urea cream showed a sharp increase by 256% in terms of conductanae, and H-base by 97.8%. Mineral oil decreased by 41.5% and petrolatum by 62% respectively. On the other hand, when measured in terms of capacitance under the same conditions as above, 38.9 increase in 10% urea cream, 19.3% increase in H-base, 20% decrease in mineral oil, and 43.5 % decrease in petrolatum were reported. Conductance showed a higher hygroscopicity and a lower water holding capacity than capacitance did. When the measurement of the moisture level iri virious parts of the human body is performed, the corneometer provided us with more stable alies than the hydrometer. While the hydrometer can not the available and appropriate under the condition of insulation, the corneometer can measure moisture levels even down at the depth of 250mm. When measured after the oily surface of the forehead was cleansed with soft tissue, conductance and capacitance revealed higher values of moisture levels than before the eleanin. However, there is no statistical significance in these values. CONCLUSION: The hydrometer is a more appropriate tool for the measurement of moisture at a high level, and the corneometer at a low moisture level. The hydrcmeter is a more sensitive method of measuring the increase and the decrease in the moisture level.

Treatment of angiofibroma with carbon dioxide laser and copper vapor laser / 대한피부과학회지

Angiofibroma is a disfiguring facial deformity that constitutes pait of the multiple system involvement in tuberous sclerosis. We describe eight affected patients who have been treated with:arbon dioxide laserabration and subsequent copper vapor later treatment for residual angiomatous component, which resulted in conspicious cosmetic improvement without scarring or recurrence. This report documents that the treatment with carbon dioxide later and subsequent copper vapor laser is an efficient and safe remedy for treating multiple facial angioibromas.

Histologic changes of nevus flammeus following copper vapor laser treatment / 대한피부과학회지

Nevus flammeus is a benign but cosmetically devascating congenital inalformation involving mature capillaries. The copper vapor laser is a therapeutic device which had been newly applied to this. Yellow copper vapor light is absorbed by the intraluminal oxyhemoglobulin mo ecules, leading to the destruction of blood vessels. This study was undertaken to evaluate the histobigic findings in a patient with nevus flammeus according to the sequential time after copper vapor laser therapy. The results were as followed, One hour after treatment, nonspecific damages to the epidermis and upper part of the dermis were observed. The specific damage to the vessels which showed thrombi formations and partial disruption of the vessel walls was prominent. One cay after treatment, degeneration of the epidermis and sepaiation of the dermoepidermal junction were apparent. Three days after treatment, extravasations of a small amount of erythrocytes and inflanimatory cell infiltrations were present, especially around the vessels. Seven days after treatment, the capillaries showed a deposition of fiorinoid material around themselves. Partial disappearance of the vessel walls was seen. There was hisi ologic evidence of the replacement of abnormal ectatic vessels by normal appearing vessels with small uminal diameters, surrounded by endothelial cells.