Annular atrophic lichen planus(AALP) is an uncommon variant of lichen planus that results from elastolytic activity of inflammatory cells with formation of areas of localized acquired cutis laxa. The annular configuration of the lesions resulted from peripheral enlargement with simultaneous central clearing. Histologically, it shows the feature of lichen planus in the active border of the lesion and a pattern of resolved lichen planus in its center. Elastic fibers had been destroyed in the papillary dermis both in the border and in the center of the lesion, resulting in an atrophic appearance of the lesion. We report a case of annular atrophic lichen planus which has never been reported in Korea.
Cutis Laxa ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Korea ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens*

Progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation(PCZH) is a pigmentary disorder of the skin which is a distinctive clinical entity first described by Rower et al. in 1978. It is characterized clinically by a single area of uniformly tan cribriform macular pigmentation in a zosteriform distribution without preceding history of skin rash, injury or inflammation and histopathologically by a mild increase of melanin pigment in the basal cell layer and complete absence of nevus cells. We report herein three cases of PCZH. The age at onset ranged from 30 to 39 years. The lesions were unilateraly distributed. The lesions of two cases were on left lower extremity and the lesions of another case were on right flank and right thigh. Histopathologic examination of the lesions showed a mild increase in melanin pigment in the basal cell layer with absence of nevus cells.
Exanthema ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Inflammation ; Lower Extremity ; Melanins ; Nevus ; Pigmentation ; Skin ; Thigh ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

Linear focal elastosis is characterized clinically by horizontal yellowish palpable striae on the lower back and histologically fragmentation or aggregation of elastic fibers. We herein report four cases of linear focal elastosis in male patients. They were 12 to 17 years old and the disease duration was 1 to 3 years. We suggest linear focal elastosis is a variant of striae distensae affecting elastic fibers.
Adolescent ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Male ; Striae Distensae

Chromomycosis is a chronic mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue characterized by a brown, thick-walled, round, nonbudding form of causative fungi in the tissue. We report a case of chromomycosis caused by Fonsecaea pedrosoi in a 56-year-old Korean woman who showed 3 x 4cm sized deep ulcerations on the dorsa of both hands. Histopathologically, chronic granulomatous inflammation and sclerotic cells were observed. Fonsecaea pedrosoi was grown into typical black colonies in fungus culture. She was treated with pedicle flap graft followed by oral itraconazole, and showed clinical improvement.
Chromoblastomycosis* ; Female ; Fungi ; Hand* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Itraconazole ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Transplants ; Ulcer*

Bullous Pemphigoid(BP) is a chronic non-hereditary autoimmune disease of the elderly characterized by subepidermal blisters due to autoantibodies targeted to hemidesmosome. An elevated serum IgE level and perepheral blood eosinophilia are observed in one-half of cases though their clinical relevance on disease activity is unclear. A 48-year-old woman presented with severe pruritus and recently developed multiple bullae. IgG antibody was deposited on the epidermal roof side on direct immunofluorescence study and 180 & 230 kD BP antigens were identified with immunoblotting analysis. Pruritus was so severe as not to be controlled by conventional antihistamine therapy, and serum IgE level was highly elevated during the intensely itching period. However, it dropped gradually with improvement of skin lesions and pruritus in response to systemic corticosteroid and azathioprine. This finding suggests a long-term follow-up of IgE levels is necessary to determine the disease activity in a peculiar BP.
Aged ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Azathioprine ; Blister ; Eosinophilia ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemidesmosomes ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulin G ; Middle Aged ; Pemphigoid, Bullous* ; Pruritus* ; Skin

Pemphigus foliaceus is a rare, relatively mild and chronic variety of pemphigus which is characterized by superficial flaccid bullae which show acantholytic changes in the upper part of the epidermis histopathologically. Present case is a 40-year-old female with a 2 month history of yellowish colored verrucous plaques on the whole scalp. 6 years ago, she had been admitted to our hospital because of nearly generalized erythematous eroded patches, crusted plaques and bullae and diagnosed as pemphigus foliaceus and treated with corticosteroid and methotrexate. 2 months ago, an additional lesion was found on the scalp, where yellowish colored, verrucous surfaced plaques were observed. Histologic examination on the verrucous plaque showed hyperkeratosis, acanthosis and papillomatosis with acantholysis in the granular layer, leading to a subcorneal blister and dyskeratotic granular keratinocytes were seen within the blister. On the basis of clinicopathologic examination we diagnosed as pemphigus foliaceus and then we treated her with prednisolone and the skin lesion had subsided 7 months later. We report a patient of pemphigus foliaceus who was presented with verrucous surfaced plaque, which clinically mimicked pemphigus vegetans.
Acantholysis ; Adult ; Blister ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; Methotrexate ; Papilloma ; Pemphigus* ; Prednisolone ; Scalp ; Skin

Verruciform Xanthoma(VX) is a rare disease of unknown etiology that is typically solitary and predominantly located within the oral cavity. It is usually not associated with other lesions or metabolic abnormalities. Histologic features include acanthosis with uniform elongation of the rete ridges and xanthomatous cells that lie in are and typically confined to the papillary dermis. We report a rare case of multiple verruciform xanthoma that occurs in oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract simultaneously.
Dermis ; Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Mouth* ; Rare Diseases ; Xanthomatosis*

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji is a rare, distinctive clinical entity characterized by a widespread pruritic eruption of coalescence of flat-topped erythematous papules producing an erythroderma with sparing of the skin folds (the 'deck-chair' sign). Other common features of papuloerythroderma are blood eosinophilia, lymphopenia, a raised serum IgE and a nonspecific or eczematous-like histopathologic feature. Its etiology has been reported as variable, and the condition is thus considered as a pattern of cutaneous expression induced by a range of pathological process for systemic disease. We experienced a 71-year-old male patient with a 4-month history of a generalized pruritic eruption which clinical features were compatible with papuloerythroderma of Ofuji. Treatment with systemic steroid resulted in marked improvement.
Aged ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Skin

Diffuse alopecia due to occult syringoma of the scalp has rarely been reported but the authors of the cases presented different opinions about which one is the primary event between the two conditions and if the syringoma is true or a reactive ductal proliferation. We have found a case whose diffuse alopecia is believed to be due to true syringoma of the scalp. A 43-year old woman showed simultaneous and gradual development of diffuse alopecia and multiple papular elevations on the face and neck adjoining the frontal and temporal hair lines. Histopathology of the scalp and the facial papular elevations all revealed typical syringomatous infiltrations with epithelial comma-tails and sclerotic stroma. All of the clinicopathological findings supported that the diffuse alopecia of the patient was due to the occult syringoma of the scalp.
Adult ; Alopecia* ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Neck ; Scalp ; Syringoma*

The staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome encompasses a spectrum of blistering skin disease that ranges in severity from localized bullous impetigo to a generalized syndrome with cutaneous tenderness, widespread blistering, and superficial denudation or desquamation. This disorder is induced by the exfoliative toxin of Stapylococcus aureus. The intermediate form of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome may be seen that begin as localized bullous impetigo but evolve to produce regionally limited bullae and denuded areas that may or may not harbor causative microorganism. We report six cases of the intermediate form of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in Daejeon for a short time. All cases occurred in children under 5 years of age and showed localized bullae and erythroderma with positive Nikolsky's sign.
Blister ; Child ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Humans ; Impetigo ; Skin Diseases ; Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome*