Contact Dermatitis due to cosmetics is also common in Korea. as in other developed countries. However. detection of the causative antigens is in a difficult situation due to many reasons. We have routinely patch tested with Japanese cosmetic series patch test allergens, Types 17 and 18 in addition to Hollister standard battery and patients own cosmetics to 4Q cases of suspected cosmetic contact dermatitis who have visited our Environmental and Occupational Clinic during the past one year. The study result was as follows. Total 55% ositive reaction related to cosmetics was observed in 4p patch tested patients. 2 The most frequently observed antigens were hydroxycitronellal, benzyl saliylate and cinnamic alcohol.
Allergens ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Developed Countries ; Humans ; Korea ; Patch Tests*

BACKGROUND: In vitro epidermal keratinocytes(EKs) culture systems are widely used in studying skin biology and differentiation. Recently a monolayer culture method of nail matrix cells(NMCs) has been developed. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to establish a method of culture of NMCs and compared its characteristics with those of EKs. METHODS: Human NMCs were isolated and cultured in a defined medium. Phase contrast microscopic examination, growth rate and ketatin expression were evaluated. RESULTS: In in vitro monolayer culture, NMCs had a similar growth pattern and morphological features as EKs. The synthesis of hard keratins was detected. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the NMCs culture model may be useful for the study of nail properties and the effects of drugs.
Biology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Methods ; Skin

Recently, people living in a rapidly industrializing country such as Korea seems to have less opportunity to be exposed to Rhus and Ginkgo trees than before, which may cause a lower prevalence of sensitivity to such allergens than those reported in the past. To prove the prevalence of sensitivity in Koreans, we have tested 0. 002g and 0.0l%, Urushiols and 10% Ginkgo leaves produced by Torii company to 72 atients with or suggesting contact dermatitis. The results were as follows: 1) Twelve of 72 patients(13, 9%) showed positive reactions and two patients(2. 8 %) showed active sensitization to both 0. 002% and 0. 0l% Urushiols. Only one patient(]. 4%) reacted to 10g Ginkgo leaves, and she was also reacted to the Urushiols. 2) Age and sex distribution of the positive reactors were none under thirty, 2 in thirties, 3 in forties, 4 in fifties, one over sixty, and seven female patients outnumber three male patients. 3) Out of 5 patients having past history cf contact dermatitis to Rhus tree, only patients showed positive reactions. Out of 67 patients without past history of allergy to Rhus, 8(ll, 9%) showed positive reactions and 59(88. 1%) showed negative reactions.
Allergens ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Ginkgo biloba* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Male ; Prevalence* ; Rhus* ; Sex Distribution ; Trees

The pinch graft is one type of skin graft and is indicated in small, chronic stubborn wounds or ulcers where cosmetic results are not paramount. It is a common procedure for the rapid healing of leg ulcers in countries where these are very common, such as in western society. However, it is an unfamiliar procedure to dermatologists in Korea where leg ulcers are quite rare. We treated a case of leg ulcer in systemic sclerosis using pinch grafts with satisfactory results. The pinch graft may be a useful treatment method for skin ulcers in dermatologic surgery under adverse conditions.
Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Korea ; Leg Ulcer* ; Leg* ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin ; Skin Ulcer ; Transplants* ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries

Nickel is widely known as a common source of contact dermatitis and nickel sensitivity amounts to nearly 10 percent of allergic contact dermatitis patients. Common sources of nickel dermatitis are well known as necklaces, watches, rings, hooks, earrings and spectacle frames. Recently, we have seen five cases of nickel dermatitis the suspected sources of which were metal spectacle frames. The interim patch test result in our occupational and environmental clinic suggests that the metal spectacle frame is one of the most common sources of nickel dermatitis. Out of 84 medical students 27 wore metal spectacle frames. We have done a dimethylglyoxime spot test to the metal spectacle frames and got a positive result in 12 out of 27(44.4%). We conclude that metal spectacle frame seems to be one of the dominant causes of nickel dermatitis and it will be an increasing problem in our society.
Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Ear ; Humans ; Nickel ; Patch Tests ; Students, Medical

54-year-old male patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia was consulted to our department. He had had a few painful erythematous necrotic plaques on the chest, which suggested initslly vasculitis or pyoderma. On histological examination, characterisitic histological findings of non-septated large hyphae were observed in the dermis and subcutaneoustissue, Although organism was not isolated on Sabouraud agar media containing cycloheximide, the diagnosis of cutaneous mucormycosis was made by the characteristic histological nattlre. He died after 2 weeks with amphotericin B intravenous injections so that additional fungus culture was not performed.
Agar ; Amphotericin B ; Cycloheximide ; Dermis ; Diagnosis ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucormycosis* ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Pyoderma ; Thorax ; Vasculitis

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is a familial disease that is characterized by delicate, ectatic vessels in the skin, mucous membrane and viscera. These patients have a generalized vascular derangement including pulmonary A-V fistula and angiomatosis. Episodes of hemorrhage in cornbination with a familial history and cutaneous telangiectasia are diagnostic. We preaented a typical case of hereditary hemorrhagic telangieetasia in a 3-year-old female who had. two episodes of hemoptysis and compatible telangiectatic skin lesion. Her pulmonary and hepatic angiornas were also proved by pulmonary and aortic angiography.
Angiography ; Angiomatosis ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fistula ; Hemoptysis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mucous Membrane ; Skin ; Telangiectasia, Hereditary Hemorrhagic* ; Telangiectasis ; Viscera

Resorcin is widely being used in the fields of the therapeutics, cosmetics, industry, but allergic contact dermatitis is an infrequent adverse reaction. We have experienced a case of allergic contact dermatitis to resorcin. A 59-year-old male with Kaposi's sarcoma on the right foot developed linear erythematous vesicular eruption along the marking areas 4 days after application of Castellanis paint, used as a skin marking solution for radiation therapy. He showed patch test positive reaction to Castellani's paint as well as its individual components, resorcin and phenol.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Foot ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paint ; Patch Tests ; Phenol ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Skin*

This study was undertaken to elucidate extracutaneous hyperpigmentation of nevus of Ota by analyzing the 70 patients who visited Cryosurgery Clinic in Seoul National University Hospital between January 1984 and March 1985 This results were as follows: 1. The age of onset showed two peaks: the first one was at birth or soon after birth; 27 cases(38. 6%) and the second une was between 11 and 17 years; 37 cases (45. 7%). 2 Seventy cases were classified by Taninos method: 15.7% was type I a, 27. l% type I b, 28. 6% type Il, 20. O% type g and 8. 6% type IV 3.Fifty two out of 70 cases who were examined at the department of ophtha1rnology: pigrnentation of sclera was observed in 29 cases(55. 8%.), of conjunctiva in 18 cases(34.6%), of uveal tract in 14 cases(26. 9A), of fundus in 14 cases (26. 9%) and of optic papilla in 2 cases(3. 8%). 4 Fifty two out of 70 cases who were examined at the department of Otorhinolaryngology. pigmentation of tympanum was observed in ]0 cases(23, 8%,), of nasal mucosa in 6 cases(14. 3p,), of oral mucosa in 5 cases(11, 9%), of external auditory canal in 4 cases(9 5%) and of pharynx in 1 case(2.4%,)
Age of Onset ; Conjunctiva ; Cryosurgery ; Ear Canal ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation* ; Mouth Mucosa ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nevus of Ota* ; Nevus* ; Optic Disk ; Otolaryngology ; Parturition ; Pharynx ; Pigmentation ; Sclera ; Seoul ; United Nations

Pigmented contact dermatitis, firstly reported by Dr. Osmudsen in 1970, is a disease result from recurrent contact dermatitis due to hypersensitivity to cosmetic companents, which produces secondary bizarre dark brown hyperpigmentation. Histological examination of this condition reveals liquefaction degeneration of the basal cells of the epidermis and melanophages in the upper dermis. However, this entity has not been reported in the Korean literature until now. We report three cases of pigmented contact dermatitis which were diagnosed by the histological examinations and the patch tests.
Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Hyperpigmentation ; Hypersensitivity ; Patch Tests