Melasma is a common acquired symmetric hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light to dark brown macules and patches on sunexposed areas of the skin. Its histopathologic characteristics are important for treatment. Melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation possibly by both the increased number of melanocytes and the increased function of melanogenic enzymes over the dermal solar changes. Until now, curative measures are not available for melasma. Current therapies include topical agents (retinoic acid, hydroquinone, steroids), peeling (Combes solution, glycolic acid, TCA), and lasers(Co2, Erbium-Yag, Q-switched).
Hyperpigmentation ; Melanocytes ; Melanosis* ; Skin ; Skin Lightening Preparations

A total of 40 adult black-mice was used and divided into two groups for expeiment. Group A was irradiated by UVB only and Group B had SPF 15 sunscreen a.pplied to the back followed by irradiation by UVB. Each group was divided again into 5 subgroups according to the days of UVB irradiation frcm 2 to 10 days. A Waldmann combination UVA+UVB Radiation Treatment Cabin 8001 was used as the light source and the UVB dosage was 50 mJ/cm2 daily. Skin specimens were taken 24 hours after the last irradiation. Histologic changes in epidermis were reviewed by the light microscope. In group A, the characteristic sunburn cells(SBC) were observed with 100 mJ/ cm2. SBC number was maximum with 400 mJ/cm2. The other epidermal changes were parakerat.osis, crusts, atypical cells, and mitoses of basal cells, which showed graded responses to the UVB doses. Pretreatment with the sunscreen completely prevented these changes.
Adult ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Keratinocytes* ; Mitosis ; Skin ; Sunburn

Prurigo pigmentosa is a peculiar pruritic pigmented dermatosis characterized by the sudden appearance of reddish papules accompanied by severe pruritus. The etiology still remains unknown but environmental factors may play a role, in which physical trauma or friction from wet clothing induces the skin lesions. It has a seasonal preference for spring to summer when there is increased sweating. We report a case of prurigo pigmentosa which may be triggered by sweating and cured with minocycline.
Clothing ; Friction ; Minocycline ; Prurigo* ; Pruritus ; Seasons ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Sweat* ; Sweating*

A 50-year-old man developed 3cm sized, well-marginated, subcutaneous mass on the right upper back. Histopathologic finding showed the lipomatous tissue was replaced by a mixture of uniform spindle cells and mature fat cells that were closely associated with a mucoid matrix and a varying number of collagen fibers. The patient had been treated with excision and showed no evidence of recurrence.
Adipocytes ; Collagen ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence

We report a case of a 41-year-old female with acrogeria. She was in good health except for the prominent atrophy over the hands and feet. On microscopic examination of a biopsy specimen from the atropl6c skin, elastic fibers were clumped and fragmented. Electronmicroscopy revealed amorphous and granulous pseudoelastin, which is presumed to be consistent with acrogeria. Our patient had acro-osteolysis and an extra chromosome in addition to the normal 23 pairs of chromosomes in one of 20 cells examined, which have been very rarely reported in the literature. Further studies are needed to find out whether this chromosomal aberration might contribute to the pathogenesis.
Acro-Osteolysis ; Adult ; Atrophy ; Biopsy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Skin

We report herein a case of tuberculosis cutis orificialis in a 50-year-old man. He suffered from well demarcated, 2x5cm sized, slightly tender, pus discharging, perianal ulcer with bluish edges for 3 months. The biopsy specimen from the ulcer revealed tuberculoid structure with Langhans giant cells in the deep dermis and a few acid-fast bacilli. AFB cultures from the sputum, pus, and tissue were successful. Intradermal test with PPD showed positive result. Chest roentgenographic findings disclosed advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Almost complete healing of the perianal ulcers occurred following 2 months of therapy using antituberculosis drugs.
Biopsy ; Dermis ; Giant Cells, Langhans ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests ; Middle Aged ; Sputum ; Suppuration ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis* ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary ; Ulcer

Impaired sweating reportedly has been associated with a high incidence of heat pyrexia. An important cause is attributed to sweat gland fatigue following intense prolonged sweating. For further investigation, sweat gland fatigue was induced by heat exposure for 2 hours in a hot room (dry bulb 46c, wet bulb 37c) with 9 healthy subjects. Sweating rate of the right forearm increased progressively for the first 45 minutes with a maximum value of 40.0mg/4. 91 cm2/15 min followed by a slow decrease to 24.9 mg/4.91cm2/15 min at the end of 2 hours. Active sweat pores decreased in number following 2 hours of heat exposure but the differences were not significant statistically. In spite of the higher sweat rate on the back, the number of active sweat pores was smaller as compared to the right forearm. Na+ concentrations of the second hour sweat collections were higher than those of the first hour with difference of 14. 9 mEq/l on the right forearm and 12.3 mEq/1 on the back.
Fatigue ; Fever ; Forearm ; Hot Temperature* ; Incidence ; Sweat Glands ; Sweat* ; Sweating

Since the book "Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying" was published in 1991, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of cases of suicidal asphyxiation using helium gas. However, no domestic reports have been published thus far. Recently, we encountered a case of asphyxial suicide by inhalation of helium from inside a plastic bag. Subsequently, we reviewed the records of the Scientific Crime Analysis System of National Police Agency of Korea. There were 17 cases of helium-associated asphyxial suicides between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2012. The average age of the deceased was 30.6 years with a male to female ratio of approximately 5:1. Thirteen of 17 such deaths occurred in the victims'houses. In all cases, the method of death involved placing a plastic bag over the head with a hose attached to helium tanks. In 6 of 17 cases, the decedents had psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neither characteristic signs of death nor conventional methods for detecting helium gas exist, a thorough investigation of the death scene and the decedents'environment is extremely vital for confirming death due to helium asphyxiation.
Crime ; Depression ; Female ; Head ; Helium ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Male ; Plastics ; Police ; Suicide ; Suicide, Assisted

Various epidermal changes overlying a dermatofibroma can be induced through the proliferation of pluripotential epidermal cells by the stimulation of mesenchymal factors. The authors report a case of dermatofibroma in a 55-year-old male who had a reddish brown, asymptomatic nodule of 5 years duration on his left forearm. The biopsy specimen revealed a dermatofibroma of cellular type associated with epidermal changes: (1) acanthosis; (2) elongation of rete ridges; (3) thin interlacing epidermal strands with increased pigmentation resembling seborrheic keratosis or fibroepithelioma; (4) immature hair follicles and sebaceous lobules; (5) hair germ like buddings; (6) superficial basal cell epithelioma-like proliferations.
Biopsy ; Forearm ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pigmentation

The case of a 56-year-old woman with a keratoacarithoma(KA) of the labial mucosa is herein reported, The tumor was excised and the pathological features were characteristic of a KA, This case is reported because the oral mucosa is such an unexpected location for solitary KA and the labial mucosa of this patient received chronic actinic damage, which suggested an etiological relationship. Follow-up examination of the patient after four months showed no recurrence.
Actins ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratoacanthoma* ; Middle Aged ; Mouth Mucosa ; Mucous Membrane* ; Recurrence ; Solar System*