BACKGROUND: Treatments including intralesional corticosteroid injection, pressure therapy, cryotherapy, and various laser therapies have had limited success for keloids and hypertrophic scars. OBJECTIVE: This trial evaluated the efficacy of a combination of 578 nm copper bromide laser and the more traditional intralesional corticosteroid injection for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars with respect to scar color. METHODS: Keloids or hypertrophic scars of 12 Korean patients were treated five times by the combined treatment at 4-week intervals. Clinical improvement was assessed by the physicians' global assessment (PGA) comparing pre- and post-treatment photographs, as well as 4 weeks after the last treatment. Erythema intensity was quantified using a mexameter. RESULTS: Most scars showed significant clinical improvement in PGA and decreased erythema intensity after 5 treatments. All patients showed improvements in symptoms like pruritus. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment is effective for keloids and hypertrophic scars, especially when the telangiectatic portion of the scars is prominent. The adjunctive use of 578 nm copper bromide laser decreased the telangiectatic side effects of an intralesional corticosteroid injection by reducing the vascular components of scars.
Cicatrix ; Cicatrix, Hypertrophic* ; Copper* ; Cryotherapy ; Erythema ; Humans ; Keloid* ; Laser Therapy ; Pilot Projects* ; Pruritus

rue fungal infection of the nail plate is known as onychomycosis. Systemic therapy of onychomycosis is more likely to be effetive than topical treatment. However, the potential for adverse reactions and for interaction with the metabolism of other medication can preclude their use. Furthermore, some people do not want to take oral medicine for treatment of onychomycosis. Because of this, the prospect of effective topical therapy is a welcome alternative. To provide better delivery of drug to bed and nail plate, we trimmed with electric nail grinder (KHP 3000 Frees(R), Germany), and then applied nail lacquer (Amorolfine HCl, Loceryl(R), Galderma korea). The potential for synergism of electric nail grinder with topical antifungal agent is expected.
Lacquer* ; Metabolism ; Onychomycosis* ; Oral Medicine ; Ruta

Oral finasteride(Propecia(R)), 1mg/day, has been widely used as an effective treatment for male androgenetic alopecia since it had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA) of U.S. in December 1997. Gynecomastia has been one of the most common adverse effects in the patients who were taking 5mg of oral finasteride(Proscar(R)). Recently, several cases of unilateral or bilateral finasteride induced gynecomastia have also been reported in 1mg of oral finasteride(Propecia(r)). We report two cases of finasteride(Propecia(R)) induced painful bilateral gynecomastia, which are the first published documentations in Korea.
Alopecia ; Documentation ; Finasteride ; Gynecomastia* ; Humans ; Korea ; Male

No abstract available.
Dermatitis* ; Metronidazole* ; Tacrolimus*

No abstract available.
Cicatrix* ; Phototherapy* ; Platelet-Rich Plasma*

Bokbunja (Rubus Coreanus Miquel) is a wild berry to Rosaceae genus of which application areas have been expanded due to many health effects. Bokbunja contains carbohydrates, protein, fats and dietary fibers as major components and various flavonoids such as tannins, volatile components including organic acids, alcohols and hydrocarbons as minor ones. Those active compounds attribute to increase in immune function, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Recently pure compounds have been isolated from the extracts for the development of medicines. We report here on two cases of acne vulgaris that was successfully treated with Rubus Coreanus Miquel extracts.
Acne Vulgaris ; Alcohols ; Carbohydrates ; Dietary Fiber ; Fats ; Flavonoids ; Fruit ; Hydrocarbons ; Propionibacterium acnes ; Rosacea ; Rosaceae ; Tannins

BACKGROUND: Alcohol intake induces complex changes in the human body. However, there has not been much investigation on the interaction between alcohol and human skin. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of alcohol intake on the skin's physiology. METHODS: A total 16 Korean males was enrolled in this study and they were divided into two groups (group A and group B). Each group included 8 people. Group A drank alcohol (20.1%, 360 ml) for 90 min and Group B drank 360 ml of normal saline. The body temperature, the skin erythema index, the transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the skin hydration, the skin pH and skin sebum were measured before and 30 min and 120 min after alcohol intake. RESULTS: In group A, the skin erythema index, TEWL, skin hydration and skin pH significantly increased 30 min after alcohol intake, while the body temperature and sebum decreased. All the measurements except sebum recovered 120 min after alcohol intake. However, in group B, all the measurements were not significantly changed. CONCLUSION: Alcohol intake affects thermoregulation, the skin barrier function and the skin pH. This study showing that physiologic changes are induced by alcohol intake may help investigate the interaction between alcohol and skin disease.
Body Temperature ; Body Temperature Regulation ; Erythema ; Human Body ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Sebum ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Skin Physiological Phenomena

The neurofibromatoses are a heterogenous set of genetic disorders having clinical manifestations that involve the skin, the nervous system, or both. Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder in which acquired destruction of melanocytes causes depigmented patches of various shapes and sizes. Although the cause is unknown, various theories such as the autoimmune, autocytotoxic, and neural hypotheses have been proposed. We report two cases of neurofibromatosis with vitiligo in the same patients, which is the first report of concurrence of type I neurofibromatosis and vitiligo.
Humans ; Melanocytes ; Nervous System ; Neurofibromatoses* ; Skin ; Vitiligo*

BACKGROUND: Keratinocytes release various pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in response to cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma. Rapamycin and mycophenolic acid (MPA) have potent immunosuppressive activity because they inhibit lymphocyte proliferation. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of rapamycin and MPA on the expression of inflammation-related factors such as ICAM-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and related signaling pathways in TNF-alpha-stimulated HaCaT cells. METHODS: The viability of HaCaT cells treated with rapamycin and MPA was confirmed using MTT assay. The expression of various cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and IL-8; inflammation-related factors such as ICAM-1 and iNOS; and the activation of mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways mediated by extracellular signal-related kinases (ERK), p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) in TNF-alpha-stimulated HaCaT cells were confirmed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. RESULTS: Combined treatment of TNF-alpha-induced HaCaT cells with rapamycin and MPA decreased ICAM-1 and iNOS expression and ERK and p38 activation more than treatment with either drug alone. The most significant decrease was observed with a combination of rapamycin (80 nM) and MPA (20 nM). These results show that co-treatment with these agents has a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the activation of the ERK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway and thus suppressing the TNF-alpha-induced expression of ICAM-1 and iNOS. CONCLUSION: The combination of rapamycin and MPA could potentially be used as a therapeutic approach in inflammatory skin diseases.
Blotting, Western ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Interferons ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Interleukins ; Keratinocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Mycophenolic Acid* ; Necrosis* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Sirolimus* ; Skin Diseases ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Ingrown toenail is a common disorder resulting from various etiologies including excessive external pressure, ill-fitting footwear, and improper nail-trimming techniques. Patients commonly present with pain in the affected nail but with progression, drainage, infection and difficulty walking occur. It is often difficult to manage and frequently recurs, despite the multitude of treatment techniques that have been reported. Conservative therapy is a reasonable approach in patients with a mild to moderate ingrown toenail that do not have significant pain, substantial erythema, or purulent drainage from the lateral nail edge. We report a case of ingrown toenail in a 45-year-old female treated with K-D(R) wire, a corrective device. After application of K-D(R) wire for 3 weeks, ingrown toenail healed and the nail deformity was corrected.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Drainage ; Erythema ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mobility Limitation ; Nails ; Onychomycosis ; Tinea