We roport herein three cases of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy in two primigravidas and one multigravida in erythematous papules and urticarial plaques on both thighs, buttock and upper extremites. In the second case, lesions initially developed on both thighs and then preaded on abdomen, back and exter ities. Abdomen, thighs and extremites were involved in the third case. Histopathologic findings revealed acanthosis orfocal spongiosis in epidermis and lymphocytic perivascular infiltration with or without eosinophilsn dermis. They were treated with systemiror topical steroids and, mtihistamines. Itching was relieved within a few days after therapy and skin lesions resolved spontaneously after delivery.
Abdomen ; Buttocks ; Dermis ; Epidermis ; Pregnancy* ; Pruritus ; Skin ; Steroids ; Thigh

BACKGROUND: Epidermal cysts are the most common of all cysts. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this paper is to report the clinical and histopathologic features of epidermal cysts. METHODS: We reviewed the clinical and histopathologic features of 205 cases that were diagnosed with epidermal cysts at the department of dermatology in Anam Hospital of Korea University for 11 years, from January 1983 to December 1993. RESULTS: 1. Of the 3,400 cases of skin biopsy specimens, 205 cases were epidermal cysts(6%). There were 141 male cases (68.8%) and 64 female cases (32.2%). The ratio of male to female was 1:0.45. 2. Most patients with epidermal cysts belonged to age ranging from 20 to 59 with the highest incidence in the 3rd decade. 3. The site of predilection of the epidermal cysts were face 94(45.9%), trunk 37(18.0%), neck 23(11.2%), leg 21(10.2%), arm 19(9.3%),scalp 7(3.4%), scrotum 2(1.0%), and vagina 2(1.0%). 4. Histopathologically, 61 cases (29.3%) were ruptured. The most common cystic wall change was acanthosis followed by atrophy, hyperplasia, hypergranulosis, parakeratotis, basalioma-like change, squamous eddies, dyskeratosis. The most common cystic content was keratinous material followed by parakeratotic cells, pigment, bacterial colony, RBC, inflammatory cells, hair shaft, calcification, trichilemmal keratinization, pilomatricoma-like change. The most common stromal change was giant cells followed by fibrosis, granulation tissue formation,vessel proliferation, pigment. CONCLUSION: According to our results, which agree with those of Chung, the epidermal cysts occur as a disease particular to young men, especially on the face. Histopathologically, when an epidermal cyst ruptures and the contents of the cyst are released into the dermis, a considerable foreign body reaction with numerous multinucleated giant cells results.
Arm ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Dermatology ; Dermis ; Epidermal Cyst* ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Giant Cells ; Granulation Tissue ; Hair ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leg ; Male ; Neck ; Rupture ; Scrotum ; Skin ; Vagina

Contact allergy to clindamycin is rare, especially in relation to its widespread use in topical formulation. Neverthless, when patients using topical clindamycin complain of itching, patch testing with this preparation and its separate ingredients should be considered. We report a case of allergic contact dermatitis due to clindamycin solution for acne vulgaris therapy in a 24-year-old woman.
Acne Vulgaris ; Clindamycin* ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Patch Tests ; Pruritus ; Young Adult

It has been well known that human sera exert an inhibitory effect on the growth of dermatophytes and candida. Several different inhibitory serum factors have been isolated and investigated by some workers. In clinical aspects, the patients with diabetes are prone to derrnatophyte and candida infections. The authors attempted to investigate whether diabetic sera would have any difference in inhibitory effect on in vitro candidial growth compared with norma1 sera, Fifty and 30 serum samples were obtained from patients with diabetes and bealtby adults respectively, Aliquots of candida albicans were mcubated in the test tubes containing nutrient kiroth with addition of eacb serum. Iron was also added to saturate transferrin in the serum. The degree of candidial growth was determined by the change of percent transmission on spectrophotometry of the candida-inoculated nutrient broth in the test tubes during 24-hour incubation. The results were as followings: 1. The sera from both patients with diabetes and healthy adults were found to retain the inhibitory effect on in vitro candidial growth, though the transferrin, a known serum inhibitor, was removed by saturation with iron. 2. The inhibitory effect of diabetic sera was weaker than that of normal sera. 3. The degree of the inhibitory effect of each diabetic serum was not correlated with corresponding serum glucose level.
Adult ; Arthrodermataceae ; Blood Glucose ; Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Humans ; Iron ; Spectrophotometry ; Transferrin

A case of cutaneous cartilaginous tumor was diagnosed from solitary nadular skin lesion on a toe of 59-year old female. Lack of information about cartilage tumors in the dermatologic literature suggest that they rarely develop as supeficial lesions. General clinico-pathologic feature of the tumor is reviewed.
Cartilage ; Chondroma ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Toes

It has been increasingly clear that the defence against Mycobacterium leprae(M. leprae) appears mainly to depend on cell-mediated rather than humoral immune mechanism. Nevertheless, the M. leprae is not only capable of producing specific humoral antibody, but also stimulating the formation of a variety of autoantibodies, since mycobacteria are known to exert adjuvant effect. Although the exact role of the autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of leprosy is not known, it is remarkable that the prevalence of autoantibodies has been reported different by several investigators, suggesting the possibility of geographical or racial difference. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of some autoantibodies in Korean patients with leprosy. Eighty patients with leprosy registered at the Department of Dermatology, Seoul National University Hospital entered this study from February, 1977 through October, 1978, The diagnosis was made by clinical, histological, bacteriological and immunological assessments and the patients were classified according to the Ridley-Jopling scale. All patients were under anti leprosy chemotherapy with DDS (Diaminodiphenylsulfone) for various periods at the time of study. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) test was performed in 80 patients and the sera displaying reactive VDRL were subjected to re-examination by Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutinin Assay (TPHA). Rbeumatoid factor was sought by means of latex fixation test in 66 patients. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was detected by means of latex agglutination reaction in 61 patients using polysterene latex complexed with calf thymus deoxyribonucleoprotein. Cryoprotein was detected as described elsewhere. Four of the 80 patients(5%) showed reactive VDRL, while rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibody were not detectable in all cases. Cryoprotein was detected in 15 patients (27. 3 %). Compared with other reports on the prevalence of autoantibodies in Caucacian and African patients, we found a much lower frequency. This result may be expained partly by the racial or geographic difference in the pattern of leprosy as suggeste4 by Turk.
Agglutination ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies* ; Dermatology ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Hemagglutinins ; Humans ; Latex ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Leprosy* ; Mycobacterium ; Prevalence* ; Research Personnel ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Seoul ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; Thymus Gland ; Treponema pallidum

Cambison ophthalmic ointment is an easily available topical medicament in Korea, However, the allergic contact dermatitis lo Cambison ophthalmic ointment has not been reported in Korean dermatology literature. We report, a case of allergic contact dermatitis in a 28-year-old female who suffered from itchy, erythematous patches on both periorbital areas. She wore contact lenses and for the last year, she hac applied Cambison ophthalmic ointment to both periorbital areas. The skin lesions were aggravated gradually. A patch test showed positive reactions to Cambison ophthalmic ointment, neomycin, mercury and thimerosal. We suspect neomycin contained in Cambison ophthalmic ointment to be the etiologic agent. When contact dermatitis occurs on periorbital areas, topical ophthalmic ointment or lens cleaner may be considered as a causative agent.
Adult ; Contact Lenses ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dermatology ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Neomycin ; Patch Tests ; Skin ; Thimerosal

During the course of infectious mononucleosis, intake of ampicillin and its analogues such as amoxicillin may cause hypersensitivity skin rashes. We report herein a case of ampicillin induced skin rash in a 41-year-old female patient with infectious mononucleosis. Infectious mononucleosis was confirrned by datetion of IgM antibody against Epstein-Barr(EB) viral capsid antigen(VCA) in her serum. During the icuteillness, she taked ampicillin for 3 days, and 1 week after the intake of ampicillin, a genertliz:d erythernatous and purpuric maculopapualr eruption developed. Physicians should be careful not to use ampicillin and its analogue if batients are suspected to be infected with EB virus as ampicillin induces severe skin rashes in patients with infectious mononucleosis.
Adult ; Amoxicillin ; Ampicillin* ; Capsid ; Exanthema* ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis* ; Skin*

We report a case of toxic shock syndrome in 17-year-old female patient with skin abscess. She had a skin abscess on left inner thigh about 6th days ago, but no treatment was done. And then she presented with the features of high fever, hypotension, generalized rash, myalgia and diarrhea. After the treatment with anti-shock measures, skin wound dressing and systemic antibiotics adminstration, she was completely recovered with generalized desquamation on 10th hospital day.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bandages ; Diarrhea ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Myalgia ; Shock, Septic* ; Skin ; Thigh ; Wounds and Injuries

Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is a widely used antiseptic for the skin and mucous membrane. It is known that povidone-iodine rarely induce contact sensitization. Recently, we have experienced 2 cases of povidone-iodine contact dermatitis. Standard patch test with PUP-I, PVP and, iodine were performed.
Dermatitis, Allergic Contact* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Iodine ; Mucous Membrane ; Patch Tests ; Povidone-Iodine* ; Skin