Dermatography as a treatment after periocular surgery.

Dermatography is the application of tattooing techniques in medicine. In the past, several techniques have been tried but none of these led to reproducible results. Over the last 17 years, dermatography has been developed into a technique that is both generally applicable and reproducible. It is a suitable treatment modality for disturbing skin discolorations and scars. With dermatography these can be permanently camouflaged. In this paper, the use of dermatography as a treatment after periocular interventions is discussed.

[Dermatography. An effective method for pacemaker marking after spinal cord injuries and implantation of a Brindley stimulator for neurogenic bladder]. / Dermatographie. Eine effektive Methode zur Pacemakermarkierung nach Rückenmarkverletzungen und Anlage eines Brindley-Stimulators für neurogene Blase.

In our department, two spinal cord lesion patients suffering from neurogenic bladder dysfunction were selected for the implantation of a Brindley stimulator, as they could not be managed by conservative treatment. Accurate positioning of the external transmitter block over the subcutaneous receiver block, which is essential for the Brindley stimulator to function correctly, posed problems for the relatives who had to apply the external transmitter. In order to facilitate positioning, dermatography was used to mark the exact spot where the external transmitter should be placed. A 3-year follow-up showed that this marking solved the problem completely and that recurrent urinary tract infections stopped.

[Keratography (corneal tattooing) in corneal leukoma]. / Keratographie (Hornhauttätowierung) bei Hornhautleukom.

BACKGROUND: Since antiquity attempts have been made to minimize disfigurement and stigmatization of patients with leukoma. Keratography is a relatively new method for imprinting color pigments into the corneal stroma with an entomological needle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Keratography was performed in 20 patients at the University Eye Hospital, Munich, between November 1997 and September 1999. Patients had either a leukoma that did not tolerate prothesis or had another cloudy corneal disease. The operation was carried out in our outpatient clinic under local anesthesia. RESULTS: There was a single operation in three patients, two operations in nine, three operations in six, and four operations in two. Postoperatively 33% of patients complained of pain. No postoperative bacterial keratitis or perforation occurred. CONCLUSION: All patients were highly satisfied. The long-term stability of color pigments must still be evaluated.

Dermatography as a new treatment for alopecia areata of the eyebrows.

BACKGROUND: Alopecia areata is considered to be an autoimmune disease. It consists of patchy hair loss of the scalp and the eyebrows, making it a disfiguring condition. This 10-year study was designed to assess the usefulness of the treatment of the eyebrows with dermatography as a relatively quick and simple method to obtain a cosmetically satisfactory result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The eyebrow areas were covered with a halftone pattern of tiny dots of color pigments, using a Van der Velden Derma-injector, without anesthesia. On average, two to three dermatography sessions of 1 h were required. The follow-up was 4 years. RESULTS: Thirty three patients, most of whom had been previously treated with a sensitizer such as dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), were treated with dermatography. Four patients had also been treated by a beautician with a crude form of tattooing. The results in 30 patients were excellent. In three patients the results were good. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatography is a technique offering a good alternative for time-consuming, troublesome treatment modalities that often have considerable side-effects. With dermatography, no side-effects were found.

Dermatography with bleomycin as a new treatment for verrucae vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Common warts are caused by infection with human papillomaviruses (HPVs). Many, largely ineffective, treatment modalities have been tried in the past. The cytostatic drug bleomycin has been found to selectively affect squamous cell and reticuloendothelial tissue, but the method of its delivery directly into affected tissue such as warts has been of little efficacy. This study assessed the efficacy of a new mode of intralesional administration of bleomycin by dermatography. METHODS: The warts of patients were treated with increasing concentrations of bleomycin using the van der Velden Derma-Injector, a modified tattooing machine, under local or block anesthesia. The effects of the procedure were evaluated 1, 24, and 48 h later and the patients followed for up to 2 years. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with warts on the hands and/or feet, resistant to conventional therapy, were entered into the study, and two patients dropped out. Of the 11 remaining patients, seven went into full remission that was maintained for at least 2 years. One patient showed moderate progress and in three patients little progress was noted and dermatography was stopped. The dosage of bleomycin varied between 0.1 and 1.0 mg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Dermatography proved to be an effective technique for intralesional administration of bleomycin in more than two-thirds of patients resistant to conventional therapy. Treatment failures in this study could in part be explained by a defective immune system in the patients. Dermatography is a technique that can be learned by any skillful dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

[Use of dermatography as treatment method in various medical specialties]. / Anwendung von Dermatographie als Behandlungsmethode in verschiedenen medizinischen Fachbereichen.

Dermatography is the application of tattooing techniques in medicine. In the past, several techniques were tried but none led to reproducible results. Dermatography has been improved over the last ten years, providing techniques which are both generally applicable and reproducible. It is a suitable treatment modality for permanently camouflaging disturbing discolorations and scars. This paper covers technical and medical aspects of dermatography, as well the indications.

Dermatography: a method for permanent repigmentation of achromic burn scars.

Dermatography, a refined elaborate tattooing technique, has been used successfully in 52 patients suffering from postburn depigmentation. Materials and methods are simple and safe. Over a 5-year follow-up no adverse reactions or complications were noticed. The cosmetic results were very satisfactory both to the surgeons and to the patients. Dermatography is suggested as an alternative for treating localized achromasia, particularly when other medical therapeutic attempts have failed in repigmenting this often disfiguring condition.

Dermatography as an adjunctive treatment for cleft lip and palate patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate dermatography as a treatment for cleft lip and palate. METHODS: The results of the treatment of 19 cleft lip patients with discoloration of scars and the vermillion border after secondary cleft lip and palate surgery by dermatography and intracicatricial keloidectomy are described. RESULTS: This group of patients has gained self-confidence after treatments, to the extent that their articulation has improved. CONCLUSION: Dermatography can be applied as an adjuvant treatment with good cosmetic and esthetic results.

Dermatography--a new discipline with a wide range of applications.

Dermatography is the application of tattooing techniques in medicine. In the past, several techniques were tried but none led to reproducible results. Dermatography has been developed over the last 10 years into a technique which is both generally applicable and reproducible. It is a suitable treatment modality for disturbing discolorations and scars of the skin which can be permanently camouflaged.

Dermatography, a simple and effective method for colouring leucoma corneae.

Since antiquity many attempts were made and hence many methods were devised in order to minimalize the disfiguration and stigmatization caused by leucoma corneae. Dermatography, a refined, modified tattooing technique, was developed to treat this affliction. Materials and method are safe and simple. A number of 12 patients has been treated over a period of 3 years. During the 2-year follow-up no negative reactions were found. The cosmetic results were very satisfactory. The method is suitable to rural clinics in the developing world. The technique is safe in the hands of any well-instructed doctor.

Cosmetic tattooing as a treatment of port-wine stains.

BACKGROUND: Medical treatment for port-wine stains frequently is cosmetically unsatisfactory. An alternative possibility is cosmetic medical tattooing. METHODS: By means of a traditional Japanese tattooing technique, five patients were treated in multiple sessions until the color of the lesion matched that of the surrounding skin. RESULTS: The results were excellent, the skin texture remained normal, and the patients could discontinue cosmetic camouflage. DISCUSSIONS: Cosmetic medical tattooing when carefully done is a valuable addition to the medical armamentarium and may replace more aggressive techniques.

Tattoo removal: tannic acid method of Variot.

BACKGROUND: There are many methods for tattoo removal (e.g., surgery, cryosurgery, laser, dermabrasion), but none can restore the skin to its original state. METHODS: Tattoo removal was obtained with a combination of tattoo machine, tannic acid, and silver nitrate. RESULTS: This technique proved to be effective for the removal of amateur tattoos of any size. The results with professional tattoos were much less satisfactory. The estimation of the depth of pigment in pretreatment biopsies showed no correlation with the success rate of treatment. No indication of systemic side effects on the liver from tannic acid was found in the concentration and amount used in this study. CONCLUSIONS: This technique is effective for the removal of amateur tattoos of any size and is comparable with cryotherapy, infrared coagulation, and focal salabrasion.

Dermatography, a treatment for sequelae after head and neck surgery: a case report.

Two patients with discolouration fo skin grafts after head and neck surgery, were treated with dermatography, a refined method of tattooing, and with intra-cicatricial keloidectomy, of which the results are described.

Process and strategy in network therapy.

The following article presents a new methodology in network therapy. It describes the network therapy process from the referral and assessment of a client-system, through sessions held, to the concluding follow-up. The three stages of convening, connecting, and shifting the locus of control from the therapeutic team to the network are discussed. Various strategies and case material are described.