Comparison of High-Dose Corticosteroid Pulse Therapy and Combination Therapy Using Oral Cyclosporine with Low-Dose Corticosteroid in Severe Alopecia Areata

BACKGROUND: Severe alopecia areata (AA) is resistant to conventional treatment. Although systemic oral corticosteroids are an effective treatment for patients with severe AA, those drugs have many adverse effects. Corticosteroid pulse therapy has been introduced to increase therapeutic effects and reduce adverse effects. However, the treatment modality in severe AA is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of corticosteroid pulse therapy in patients with severe AA compared with treatment with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid. METHODS: A total of 82 patients with severe AA were treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy, and 60 patients were treated with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid. Both groups were retrospectively evaluated for therapeutic efficacy according to AA type and disease duration. RESULTS: In 82 patients treated with corticosteroid pulse therapy, 53 (64.6%) were good responders (>50% hair regrowth). Patients with the plurifocal (PF) type of AA and those with a short disease duration (< or =3 months) showed better responses. In 60 patients treated with oral cyclosporine with corticosteroid, 30 (50.0%) patients showed a good response. The AA type or disease duration, however, did not significantly affect the response to treatment. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid pulse therapy may be a better treatment option than combination therapy in severe AA patients with the PF type.

Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor with Primary Essential Cutis Verticis Gyrata / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Investigation of the Degradation-Retarding Effect Caused by the Low Swelling Capacity of a Novel Hyaluronic Acid Filler Developed by Solid-Phase Crosslinking Technology

BACKGROUND: A variety of hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers demonstrate unique physical characteristics, which affect the quality of the HA filler products. The critical factors that affect the degradation of HA gels have not yet been determined. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to determine the characteristics of HA gels that affect their resistance to the degradation caused by radicals and enzymes. METHODS: Three types of HA fillers for repairing deep wrinkles, Juvederm Ultra Plus (J-U), Restylane Perlane (Perlane), and Cleviel, were tested in this study. The resistance of these HA fillers to enzymatic degradation was measured by carbazole and displacement assays using hyaluronidase as the enzyme. The resistance of these fillers to radical degradation was measured by the displacement assay using H2O2. RESULTS: Different tests for evaluating the degradation resistance of HA gels can yield different results. The filler most susceptible to enzymatic degradation was J-U, followed by Perlane and Cleviel. The HA filler showing the highest degree of degradation caused by H2O2 treatment was Perlane, followed by J-U, and then Cleviel. Cleviel showed higher enzymatic and radical resistances than J-U and Perlane did. Furthermore, it exhibited the highest resistance to heat and the lowest swelling ratio among all the fillers that were examined. CONCLUSION: The main factor determining the degradation of HA particles is the gel swelling ratio, which is related to the particle structure of the gel. Our in vitro assays suggest that the decrease in the swelling ratio will lead to a retarding effect on the degradation of HA fillers.

An Adverse Effect Following Illegal Medical Procedure by Unlicensed Non-medical Personnel / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Fixed Drug Eruption Caused by Levocetirizine / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

The Effects of 830 nm Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Acute Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Skin lesions and pain are the most distinctive features of herpes zoster. Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy is an effective treatment known for its wound-healing effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the LED treatment affects wound healing and acute pain in acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus. METHODS: We recruited 28 consecutive Korean patients with acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus for the study. In the control group (group A), 14 subjects received oral famcyclovir. In the experimental group (group B), 14 subjects received oral famcyclovir and 830 nm LED phototherapy on days 0, 4, 7, and 10. In order to estimate the time for wound healing, we measured the duration from the vesicle formation to when the lesion crust fell off. The visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for the estimation of pain on days 4, 7, 10, and 14. RESULTS: The mean time required for wound healing was 13.14+/-2.34 days in group B and 15.92+/-2.55 days in group A (p=0.006). From day 4, the mean VAS score showed a greater improvement in group B, compared with group A. A marginal but not statistically significant difference in the VAS scores was observed between the two groups (p=0.095). CONCLUSION: LED treatment for acute herpes zoster ophthalmicus leads to faster wound healing and a lower pain score.

The Annual Changes of Clinical Manifestation of Androgenetic Alopecia Clinic in Korean Males and Females: A Outpatient-Based Study

BACKGROUND: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is characterized by the local and gradual transformation of terminal scalp hair into vellus hair, which has a shorter and thinner shaft. There are no studies that analyze annual changes in age, patterns, family history, and associated disease. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the severity of hair loss, age of onset, the frequency of family history, and past medical histories in Korean patients with AGA. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed to identify all patients with AGA referred to the Dermatology Clinic at Chung-Ang University Hospital from January 2006 to December 2010. RESULTS: The age of onset was also gradually decreased from 34.1+/-10.1 years to 31.6+/-10.9 years between 2006 and 2010. In female patients, specific annual changes were not observed. Hamilton-Norwood Type IIIv AGA was most common in male patients and Ludwig Type I AGA was most common in female patients at all times between 2006 and 2010. The majority of patients with AGA had a family history of baldness and was most commonly associated with a paternal pattern of inheritance. Seborrheic dermatitis was the most common associated disease in male and female patients. CONCLUSION: Our results show the possibilities that the average age of onset is decreasing. The period of the present study was only 5 years, which is not sufficient for the precise determination of onset age for AGA. Clearly, a long-term study is needed.

Corrigendum: The Effects of 830 nm Light-Emitting Diode Therapy on Acute Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Pilot Study

In this paper, the legend in Figure 3 (B) was given incorrectly.

Three Cases of Adverse Effects Following the Acupuncture in Oriental Medical Clinic / 대한피부과학회지

Oriental medicine is a broad range of medical practices that are based on traditions. These traditions include various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage, exercise, and dietary therapy. The views of the body place little emphasis on anatomical structures, but are mainly concerned with the identification of functional entities. Recently, most oriental doctors have expanded their range of medical treatment into a variety of aspects, and have introduced treatment remedies that include unproved methods, especially into the field of dermatology. Herein, we present 3 cases of adverse effects following the acupuncture for congenital melanocytic nevus, syringoma, and acne scar in oriental medical clinic. With the increasing popularity of acupuncture, we need to understand the current status of dermatologic treatments conducted in oriental clinics.

Necrobiotic Xanthogranuloma with Monoclonal Gammopathy / 대한피부과학회지

Necrobiotic xanthogranuloma (NXG) is a rare, progressive, histiocytic disease characterized by destructive cutaneous lesions, a close association with paraproteinemia, multiple myeloma, hypertension, and multiple extracutaneous manifestations. Multiple indurated yellow-red plaques or nodules are commonly present in this disorder. The pathogenesis of NXG is poorly understood. Histopathologically, NXG features with hyaline necrosis or necrobiosis are present. We describe a patient with typical cutaneous and histologic findings of NXG with an associated monoclonal gammopathy.

Oral Lichen Planus for Whom Dermoscopy Was Used as an Adjuvant Diagnostic Tool / 대한피부과학회지

Lichen planus is a relatively common chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, mucous membranes, and hair follicles. Oral lichen planus develops in any area of the oral mucosa, especially in the buccal mucosa, tongue, gingiva and lip. The cutaneous lesions of lichen planus are characterized with gray or white punta or streaks, referred to as Wickham striae. We report 53-year-old woman with lichen planus on the lower lip diagnosed by dermoscopy.

Papular Elastorrhexis Confined to Dorsal Aspect of the Hand and Foot / 대한피부과학회지

Papular elastorrhexis is a rare disorder, possibly a form of multiple elastic tissue nevi. The disorder typically presents as several asymptomatic, firm, nonfollicular, 1- to 5-mm-diameter, and well-demarcated white papules. It predominantly appears on the trunk, including the chest, abdomen, back and shoulders, upper extremities, and, rarely, thighs. Histologically, it is characterized by substantial fragmentation or nearly complete loss of elastic tissue in the reticular dermis. We report a 37-year-old female with popular elastorrhexis, which developed on a rare site, only dorsal aspect of the hand and foot with no involvement of the proximal extremities.