ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the fractional Radiofrequency microneedle treatment for facial atrophic acne scars. METHODS: A group of 52 patients were recruited for the study. Goodman & Baron's acne scar grading system was used for assessment at their first visit and the end of 3 months after the last treatment session. RESULTS: The results displayed that 73.1% of patients have the improvement of the Goodman scar level after four times of treatment. The Goodman and Baron scar point mean was reduced from 16 ± 7.6 to 5.6 ± 5.0 (p < 0.01). Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was experienced in 5 patients (9.6%). CONCLUSION: The microneedle fractional Radiofrequency is an effective treatment method of facial atrophic acne scars, with minor side effects and a short downtime.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) is an uncommon condition which presents acutely with papulo-vesicles that may develop necrotic, ulcerative, or hemorrhagic changes. AIM: We studied clinical, and treatment characteristics of PLEVA hospitalised patients at our hospital from September 2009 to December 2014. METHODS: The records of 15 PLEVA patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The median age of onset was 21.8 ± 18.81 (from 1 to 68), male to female ratio was 2/1. The common area of onset was trunk (60.0%) and extremities (33.3%). Clinical features were purpuric papules (100%), hemorrhagic crusted papules (46.7%), pustular purpuric papules (40%), and necrotic ulcerating lesions (13.3%). CONCLUSION: All patients were received systemic antibiotics (macrolides: 53.3%, others: 46.7%), 2 patients were added immunosuppressive drugs. A 1-year-old patient died, others had a good response.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hand eczema is a common chronic and relapsing skin disease with various clinical features. Hand eczema aetiology can be allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), irritant contact dermatitis (ICD), atopic dermatitis (AD) and unknown or combination causes. If the causative agents are not detected treatment of hand eczema will be a failure. A patch test can be useful to detect causative agents in suspected allergic contact hand eczema. Then patients will avoid contacting them. This results in the improvement of hand eczema. In Vietnam, patch test has not been used before, so we conduct this study. AIM: To identify causative allergens by using patch test with 28 standard allergens in consecutive patients. METHODS: A group of 300 HE patients from the National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHDV) in Vietnam were enrolled in this study. They were divided into 4 groups-ACD, ICD, AD and unknown aetiology. The patient was patch tested with 28 standard allergens to identify the causative agents. RESULTS: Among the 300 HE enrolled patients, ACD accounted for 72.7%, AD and ICD had the same rate of 12.7%. 39.3% of the patients had a positive patch test. Reaction to nickel sulfate was the most common (10.3%), followed by potassium dichromate (9.7%), cobalt (4%) and fragrance mix (3.1%). About one-third of the cases had relevant clinical reactions correlated with the contact agents and clinical history. Males reacted to cement, thiuram mix and formaldehyde more than females, while females reacted to a nickel more than males. CONCLUSIONS: Hand eczema has variable clinical features and diverse aetiology. ACD is an important cause of hand eczema that can be managed with a patch test to detect causative allergens. Nearly 40% of HE cases had positive patch test. Relevant patch test reactions were seen in one-third of the patients. We propose using patch test detect causative agents in suspected allergic contact hand eczema. Then patients will avoid contacting them. This results in the improvement of hand eczema.
ABSTRACT
AIM: This prospective clinical study presents the experiences with NB-UVB monotherapy in the treatment of PLC on Vietnamese patients. METHODS: We enrolled at National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology (NHDV), Vietnam, 29 PLC patients with generalised disease involving at least 60% of the total body surface (based on Nine's Rule) and/or failed to respond to other modalities of treatment. Patients were treated with NB-UVB followed the guideline of the psoriatic treatment of AAD-2010, three times weekly. RESULTS: A complete response (CR) was seen in 24 out of 29 PLC patients (82.8%) with a mean cumulative dose of 9760.5 mJ/cm2 after a mean treatment period of 4.6 weeks (13.8 ± 7.4 exposures). Mild side effects were observed: 69% erythema minimum, 55.2% irritation related to dry skin. No severe side effects were seen during the study. No relapses occurred in 24 CR patients within a mean period of 3 months after the last treatment. CONCLUSION: NB-UVB therapy is an effective and safe option for the treatment and management of PLC.
