The use of fractional radiofrequency in Asian patients to improve skin texture.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Fractional radiofrequency devices have been demonstrated to improve skin texture, such as smoothness, rhytides, brightness, and atrophic acne scars, by increasing dermal thickness, dermal collagen content, and dermal fibrillin content. The objective of the study is to assess the efficacy and adverse effects of this device on Asian patients of skin type III and IV with skin textural changes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective, open-labeled single-arm study, which was conducted with 20 Chinese patients aged 21-60 years and having irregularities in their skin texture, rhytides, and acne scars. The patients received six treatments at intervals of 4 weeks. Treatment was initiated with the maximum energy tolerated, which was then adjusted during the course of treatment if the patients felt excessive discomfort. A total of two passes were delivered in each session. Physician assessment results and standardized photographs were collected at the baseline, after all treatment visits, and at 1, 2, and 6 months after the final treatment visit. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients completed the study according to the established protocol. At the 6-month follow-up, 71% of patients were satisfied and 24% of patients were very satisfied with the received treatments, and the treatment physician reported varying degrees of improvement based on the global assessment scale in 60% of the subjects. While the anticipated side effects, such as erythema, edema, pinpoint bleeding, scab formation, and flare of acne, were noted in the patients, no serious adverse effects occurred. CONCLUSION: The use of fractional radiofrequency improves skin texture and is safe for use in Asian patients of skin type III and IV. No long-term serious adverse effects were noted.

Delayed-type drug eruption to phenazopyridine (pyridium) confirmed with patch testing.

Delayed hypersensitivity reaction of penicillin is commonly seen, but never reported in pyridium. This case illustrates a patient with delayed hypersensitivity reaction after the use of augmentin and pyridium. Skin patch test, surprisingly, confirmed pyridium delayed hypersensitivity.

HLA-B*15:11 status and carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions in HLA-B*15:02 negative Chinese.

BACKGROUND: HLA-B*15:11 is associated with carbamazepine (CBZ)-induced severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) in Japanese and some Asian populations, but such data remains relatively limited in Chinese. Routine HLA-B*15:02 screening is mandatory before CBZ commencement, however, SCARs related to CBZ were still observed in non-HLA*B-15:02 carriers. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to find out the prevalence of HLA-B*15:11 in Chinese patients and its associations with CBZ-induced SCARs. METHOD: We screened 8,328 blood samples collected for HLA allele typing before CBZ commencement during the period of January 2014 to December 2019. In HLA-B*15:02 negative Chinese patients, HLA-B*15:11 status were further screened, and the incidence of SCARs in the CBZ group was compared with the control group without CBZ use. RESULT: In this cohort, 1416 out of 8328 patients (17%) tested HLA-B*15:02 positive and were advised to avoid CBZ, while 80 (0.96%) were found to be HLA-B*15:11 positive. In 6911 (83%) patients who tested HLA-B*15:02 negative, 70 (1.01%) were HLA-B*15:11 positive. Five out of 70 (7.14%) patients had SCARs. The incidence of SCARs in HLA-B*15:11 carriers who received CBZ was significantly higher than those without CBZ (17.4% [4/23] vs. 2.13% [1/47], P = 0.037*). The odds ratio was 9.68 (95% CI 1.02-92.4, P = 0.048*). These included: one Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), two DRESS, and one MPE after CBZ use, while one developed MPE after phenytoin use in control. CONCLUSION: HLA-B*15:11 is a potential risk factor of CBZ-induced SCARs in HLA-B*15:02 negative Chinese patients. Further screening of HLA-B*15:11 status in those HLA-B*15:02 negative patients is recommended to avoid undesirable SCARs.

Fractional 1064 nm Picosecond Laser in Treatment of Melasma and Skin Rejuvenation in Asians, A Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Facial melasma is a disfiguring pigmentation and occurs frequently with aging skin. Topical treatment alone was often suboptimal. A recent study showed that fractional picosecond laser has promising result in benign pigmentary lesions. This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of 1064 nm picosecond laser in treatment of facial melasma and skin rejuvenation in Asian skin. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients of Asian descent seeking treatment for facial melasma and skin rejuvenation were screened and recruited. Each patient received up to nine laser treatments at 4-6 weeks intervals with a fractionated nonablative 1064 nm picosecond laser. Baseline and posttreatment modified Melasma Area Severity Index (mMASI) and Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (IGAS) were assessed by blinded investigators based on the clinical photographs. Subject overall satisfaction was assessed by the questionnaires after treatment. All adverse events were documented. RESULTS: Twenty patients were recruited with a median age of 52.7 ± 8.2 years. Three subjects had Fitzpatrick skin type III and 17 had skin type IV. All subjects received nine laser sessions. Over 70% of patients were satisfied with the treatment outcomes. There was a statistically significant improvement in mMASI which reduced from 10.8 at baseline to 2.7 and 3.6 at 6 and 12 weeks post-treatment, respectively (both P < 0.01). For skin rejuvenation, 70% reported at least a moderate improvement at 6 weeks of post-treatment. No major side-effect was reported. Erythema was the most frequent transient response, while some reported edema (1.1%). Both resolved spontaneously. None reported hypo- or hyperpigmentation after treatment. The overall mean pain scare (VAS) was 1.92. CONCLUSION: Fractionated non-ablative 1064 nm picosecond laser was effective in treatment of melasma and skin rejuvenation. It was also safe and well tolerated. Importantly, there was no hypo or hyperpigmentation reported. Lasers Surg. Med. 00:00-00, 2021. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.