Comparison of salicylic acid 30% peel and pneumatic broadband light in the treatment of mild to moderately severe facial acne vulgaris.

Acne patients experience not only a medical disease but also an aesthetic condition, and this latter complication greatly motivates patients to seek out the best treatment regimen to hasten improvement in their appearance. The available clinical procedures for acne treatment include salicylic acid 30% peel and pneumatic broadband light (PBBL). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of salicylic acid 30% peel and PBBL treatments in patients with mild to moderately severe facial acne vulgaris. Twelve patients were recruited for a 12-week prospective, single-blind, randomized, split-face study. Patients were treated with a salicylic acid 30% peel on one side of the face and PBBL treatment was administered on the opposite side of the face for 6 consecutive weeks without other acne treatments. At every visit, treatment evaluations were performed using a modified Global Acne Grading Score (mGAGS), acne quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale (WBPRS) assessments, and clinical photography. Improvement in acne symptoms was observed for both treatment procedures without significant differences and with minimal side effects. Salicylic acid 30% peel and PBBL were well tolerated in our study, and both clinical procedures were efficacious and well-tolerated by the patients.

Comparison of pneumatic broadband light plus adapalene gel 0.3% versus adapalene gel 0.3% monotherapy in the treatment of mild to moderate acne.

Acne vulgaris is a common and distressing condition that typically presents in adolescents and young adults. The aim of this split-face, single-blind, randomized, controlled study was to determine if combination therapy with pneumatic broadband light (PBBL) plus adapalene gel 0.3% is superior to adapalene gel 0.3% monotherapy in the treatment of acne. Results indicated that the addition of PBBL to topical regimens may lead to quicker results and therefore may improve treatment adherence to topical therapies in acne patients.

Treatment of male androgenetic alopecia with topical products containing Serenoa repens extract.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Male androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair problem. Serenoa repens extract has been shown to inhibit both types of 5-α reductase and, when taken orally, has been shown to increase hair growth in AGA patients. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical products containing S. repens extract for the treatment of male AGA. METHODS: This was a pilot, prospective, open, within-subject comparison limited to 24 weeks using no placebo controls. In all, 50 male volunteers aged between 20 and 50 years received topical S. repens products for 24 weeks. The primary end-point was a hair count in an area of 2.54 cm(2) at week 24. Secondary end-points included hair restoration, investigators' photographic assessment, patients' evaluation and discovering adverse events. RESULTS: The average hair count and terminal hair count increased at weeks 12 and 24 compared to baseline. Some of these positive results levelled off at week 24, presumably because the concentrated topical product containing S. repens extract was stopped after 4 weeks. The patients were satisfied with the products and the side-effects were limited. CONCLUSIONS: The topical application of S. repens extract could be an alternative treatment in male pattern baldness in male patients who do not want or cannot tolerate the side-effects of standard medications, but the use of a concentrated S. repens product beyond 4 weeks may be necessary for sustained efficacy.

A New Tool to Maximize Donor Harvesting With Safer Closure.

BACKGROUND: Scalp laxity is a major factor in achieving the maximum number of grafts in donor harvesting during hair restoration surgery. Proper assessment is important for each individual but especially so in patients presenting tight scalp. OBJECTIVE: To validate cross beam laser (CBL) for scalp laxity assessment in comparison with Mayer elasticity scale (MES). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study of 165 patients, both CBL and MES were used to evaluate scalp laxity in vertical plane at the center and lateral area before surgery. The real width (RW) of donor strip during surgery was considered the gold standard. RESULTS: Spearman correlation coefficient revealed that the CBL width was significantly correlated with the MES width in the following subgroups: (1) subjects undergoing their first session, (2) subsequent session patients, and (3) patients who required maximum number of grafts. Although the CBL width was statistically significant when compared with the RW in certain areas, whereas the MES width was statistically significant in all areas, the differences between the CBL width and the RW were minimal and clinically insignificant. CONCLUSION: The accuracy of scalp laxity measurements using the CBL procedure establishes CBL as a reliable tool for hair restoration surgery.

Childhood follicular mucinosis co-existed with alopecia universalis.

We report a case of a 6-year-old girl presented with diffuse scalp and body hair loss and developed multiple groups of follicular papules on the trunk. She was diagnosed as follicular mucinosis co-existed with alopecia universalis. Histopathological study supported the diagnosis and did not find malignancy cells.

Purely Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD) co-existed with capillary hemangioma successfully treated with intralesional corticosteroid.

Rosai-Dorfminan disease (RDD), or sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, is a benign idiopathic proliferative disorder of the histiocyte. Purely Cutaneous Rosai-Dorfman disease (CRDD) is a separated clinical entity without lymph node and organ involvement. The histologic features resemble RDD, but with dermal infiltration. This rare condition is benign and mostly self-limited The authors report a 66-year-old Thai male patient, diagnosed as purely CRDD, with co-existing capillary hemangioma. In addition, we show that the treatment intralesional corticosteroid can produce the remission of the plaque and tumoral types of this condition.

Clinical features and aggravating factors in nummular eczema in Thais.

BACKGROUND: Nummular eczema is an idiopathic inflammatory skin disease that mostly has a chronic and relapsing course. Many factors are thought to be responsible for this condition, such as atopic dermatitis, dry skin, emotional stress or seasonal variation. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess clinical findings and aggravating factors of nummular eczema and to evaluate characteristics, severity of disease and quality of life of patients. METHODS: One hundred patients aged from 18 years old diagnosed as nummular eczema were asked about general data, characteristics and clinical findings of nummular eczema, and completed the Thai version of the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaires. They also underwent a physical examination. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features and possible aggravating factors of nummular eczema were reported. The result confirmed the chronic course of the disease. The nummular eczema affected quality of life of patients and itching caused the most impairment. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 42.1 (18.4) years and two-thirds were women. Fourteen percent had history of atopic dermatitis and half had history of atopy or contact dermatitis. From patch tests, the most common allergen was found to be nickel. Ninety percent of lesions located in lower extremities and two-thirds had a co-existing dryness of the skin. Emotional stress and drinking alcohol aggravated the disease. Those who had exacerbation in summer or skin dryness tended to have persisting disease. Mean(SD) total DLQI score among our patients was 9.2(6.8). Quality of life of the patients was significantly impaired in younger life, office workers, those with trunk-distributed lesions and those having extensive lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features and possible aggravating factors of nummular eczema were reported. The result confirmed the chronic course of the disease. The nummular eczema affected quality of life of patients and itching caused the impairment.